Yankees claim powerful Phillies minor-league righty (with brutal big-league cameo)

On Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees declared that they believed in diminutive ex-Brewers lefty Clayton Andrews, despite his 27.00 ERA in 3 1/3 big-league innings in 2023.

After all, is a teeny, tiny sample size at the MLB level really supposed to outweigh 50+ innings of swing-and-miss stuff and a sterling ERA (and, fine, a bad walk rate) at Triple-A? Don't think so. The Yankees saw the blueprint, and took advantage of their ability to stash Scott Effross on the 60-Day IL. Now, they'll get a spring camp opportunity to learn about what Andrews can offer.

Friday's news proved that the Yankees are positively addicted to executing these types of moves nowadays. Granted the opportunity to place recent returnee Lou Trivino on the 60-Day IL, too, while he rehabs from Tommy John surgery, the Yankees took a chance on righty McKinley Moore, who made his MLB debut for the 2023 Phillies.

You're not going to believe this, but Moore missed a ton of bats at Double- and Triple-A, then posted an 18.90 ERA in 3 1/3 innings across three MLB outings. That type of portfolio will get you DFA'd and claimed like clockwork.

Yankees claim McKinley Moore from Phillies

Ah. Feels like just yesterday we were spilling ink about Matt Gage. He didn't really fit into the Yankees' plans, anyway; he was good in his big-league cameo.

Moore, a righty reliever, has always missed bats, striking out 71 men in 49 2/3 innings at Double-A Reading in 2022. Unfortunately -- say it with me now! -- he also had a walk issue (26), resulting in a 4.35 ERA. Last season, he curbed the ERA after returning from injury, whiffing 37 in 20 1/3 innings across three levels, posting a 1.33 ERA and .177 batting average against.

Somehow, his control got worse; 22 walks in 20 1/3 innings will turn heads in all the wrong directions.

The Yankees have previously bet on erratic, borderline big-league talent and wound up with arms like Clay Holmes. They've also battled wildness bouts with pitchers like Nick Nelson, who ended up as Moore's teammate in Philadelphia.

Either the Yankees like how the stuff plays up in spring, or they cut bait on Moore before the end of camp. He'll flesh out the 40-man roster, but only temporarily.