Yankees made playoff roster mistake with disrespectful Cody Poteet demotion

With several roster decisions still ahead of them as they look to cover innings and replace Anthony Rizzo, one thing's for certain about the Yankees' ALDS roster: it won't include righty swingman Cody Poteet.

Given fears of interrupting rain and their deep, innate desire to elevate Will Warren one final time in 2024, the Yankees demoted Poteet ahead of Saturday afternoon's damp affair. Warren entered that game, but not in long relief; rather, he popped in for the ninth, extending the Yankees' deficit from 6-4 to 9-4. That rendered the Yanks' bases-loaded opportunity against Aroldis Chapman in the next frame ... dare we say, boring, and delayed their best-record clinch until the Guardians' loss later that evening. Coward's way in.

Not only did activating Warren result in Poteet's temporary departure, but it locked the righty out of the Division Series, even after he proved himself to be a stronger option than Marcus Stroman against the very same Orioles, who might wind up as the Yankees' first-round playoff opponent. Though not injured, Poteet still has to be down for 15 days, waiting patiently for another chance to eat innings.

The righty might be a better ALCS option than an ALDS choice, at this point, given Anthony Rizzo's injury and the need to extend the bench instead of the bullpen entering a short series. But, given the final 'pen spot might come down to Stroman, Tim Mayza, and Mark Leiter Jr., it's worth noting that Poteet has been the top performer in that group, and he's already been kicked to the curb.

Yankees Playoff Roster won't include Cody Poteet for ALDS

Poteet, a soft-tosser without a standout pitch, has remained a jack of all trades regardless. Every time he's been elevated this season, against top-tier competition, he's delivered.

His Yankee debut came in a brilliant spot start against the Cleveland Guardians, back in April when the team seemed to evade defeat nightly. He tossed six innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader, allowing one run without walking a batter. On a Friday night in June, with all eyes on the Yankees and Dodgers, he gritted through 4 2/3 scoreless frames, befuddling LA's star-studded lineup more effectively than any outsiders anticipated. He topped Kansas City, too, allowing two runs, four hits, and three walks in a June 12 win, just before the Yankees' season took a spiraling turn.

Poteet's triceps strain, which lingered longer than most estimated it would, helped lead to the hype train's derailment. The Yankees lost his steady hand and suffered ill effects.

Unfortunately, Poteet picking up Stroman's slack against the Orioles may have dissuaded the Yankees from bringing him into a potential October showdown with the same exact team; the recent familiarity might have hurt his case. Regardless, the Yankees had a chance to demote either Poteet or Clayton Beeter entering Saturday, but chose to give Beeter one more chance to shine while ruling the veteran out temporarily. Perhaps the Yankees will get a chance to reconsider for the ALCS when, hopefully, Rizzo will be fully healed and the bench can contract entering a longer series.