Yankees ignite playoff roster competition with latest outfielder waiver claim

The New York Yankees made the procedural decision to move reliever Ian Hamilton to the 60-Day Injured List on Monday afternoon in order to take a proactive look at a potential playoff burner.

Don't worry. Hamilton's timeline for return hasn't changed -- or, at least, if it has, the change hasn't been announced yet. The right-hander just polished off a dazzling 1-2-3 inning with three strikeouts to open his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Sunday night. He's already served 60 consecutive days on the IL, making his most recent MLB appearance all the way back on June 16.

After months of holding off on reassigning Hamilton, the Yankees pulled the paperwork trigger on Monday so they could casually put in a waiver claim for former Mariners outfielder Duke Ellis.

He'll now join ex-Blue Jay and recent addition Cam Edens in the high levels of the Yankees' system and, notably, New York is looking for a base-stealing threat with their eyes on October. Rosters expand Sept. 1, and said expanded roster will likely include Jasson Dominguez and an additional arm. Unless...?

Yankees claim speedy outfielder Duke Ellis from Mariners

You're forgiven if you thought this piece of news meant the Yankees were putting in a claim on an old jazzman.

Instead, they've earned themselves a peek at a player who's earned big-league time with the White Sox already in 2024, stealing four bags in four opportunities. He's never successfully reached base following an MLB plate appearance, but that's ... not important right now.

Ellis swiped 57 bases in 2022 across two levels of the minors, and was mostly absent from 2023 due to injury. This year, he's climbed the ladder expediently, stealing 55 bases in all across the minors and majors, only being caught four times. Kudos to those catchers, who could end up on a well-remembered list of Ellis cracks the Yankees' roster and puts on a show ahead of a potential October run.

Is a designated pinch-runner the best use of an extra roster spot? Probably not, for a team with so many pitching deficiencies and bench issues. Still, though ... it's tempting. He hit .258 at Double-A Birmingham this year! Give him a shot!