Yankees accompany Spencer Jones roster move with much-needed bullpen decision

The New York Yankees are operating with intent, something that has pleasantly surprised fans to an unexpected degree in 2026. The most recent impact move featured Spencer Jones getting the call for his MLB debut after Jasson Dominguez hit the injured list.

Shortly after, the Yankees reportedly made another move, promoting reliever Kervin Castro to the big league roster. This will be the corresponding move to Brendan Beck being optioned back to Triple-A after his extremely helpful three innings of work in Thursday's win over the Rangers. He'll go back to his usual four days of rest in the rotation with the RailRiders.

The Yankees used six pitchers on Thursday and are in the midst of playing 13 straight games. Castro will likely be roster filler until Carlos Rodón returns on Sunday, and he could see some decent action not having pitched since May 3. It'll all depend on how Friday and Saturday unfold.

Castro is on the 40-man roster, so this won't require further maneuvering. The right-hander has logged 14 1/3 innings across 11 games this year and owns a 3.14 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. In 2025, he spent the entire season at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, finishing with a 1.53 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 47 innings.

It's doubtful he'll be a difference maker, considering he hasn't appeared in MLB since a 2022 stint with the Chicago Cubs, but he could serve a useful purpose helping the Yanks eat some innings in the early going while the bullpen has been taxed.

Kervin Castro joins Yankees roster, but what's next for the 2026 bullpen?

Castro's likely a short-term fix, with the organization's sights set on Yovanny Cruz, who has been electric in his 14 2/3 innings with the RailRiders. He's got a 1.23 ERA and 0.89 ERA with 19 strikeouts. He feels like the more logical long-term move for the Bombers.

The Yankees currently have an open spot on the 40-man roster, so adding Cruz wouldn't require getting rid of somebody. They'll be sure to use that flexibility shrewdly as they navigate the various injuries that have thinned their depth over the last couple weeks.

As for more about Castro, he's been working on building himself back up after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in June of 2023. He missed all of 2024 and has been on the comeback trail since. Throughout his MLB career, he's got a 4.91 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 25 2/3 innings.

Though not exactly inspiring, the Yankees don't necessarily need an impact addition at the moment. The offense is scoring runs at will and the starting rotation is the best in the league. As long as Castro can keep the line moving, he will have done well.

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