Yankees create roster buzz with abrupt about-face on released reliever

UPDATE: It's Brent Headrick who's going down. This writer is sad.

Ok. Get ready for some very normal stuff. The New York Yankees brought 39-year-old reliever Adam Ottavino back last week when closer Devin Williams was sent to the paternity list. He appeared twice in a three-game series, then found himself DFA'd on the occasion of Williams' return.

Williams pitched twice in a three-game set in Pittsburgh, and minutes after that series ended, Ottavino announced he'd opted for free agency rather than a minor-league assignment to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Even though he'd spent spring training with the Red Sox, Ottavino is a New Yorker at heart; it made sense that he'd prefer a big-league opportunity, but had no interest in riding the rails.

Instead, he'd surely seek another MLB chance after his two shutout appearances with the Yankees, but might circle back on a minor-league deal if it was the only thing standing between him and the broadcast booth.

And yet ... just two hours later, SNY's Andy Martino announced that Ottavino would be rejoining the Yankees in Detroit for their upcoming rearranged three-game set in Motown. Who would he be replacing? And what caused the chain reaction?

Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino to reportedly re-sign and join team in Detroit for Tigers series

Rehashing Ottavino's stats with the Yankees already feels like old hat. After all, we've written about his DFA, his exile into free agency, and his return in a 72-hour period. Just know he walked two men in two appearances, but left both scoreless, and is a viable middle reliever in a pinch these days.

What is the occasion of his return? Did someone get hurt on Sunday? Do the Yankees plan to demote Will Warren, now that they don't need a No. 5 starter (based on the schedule) until Clarke Schmidt's likely return? The Shark whiffed seven in a rehab appearance on Saturday.

That would be the happy reason to bring back Ottavino. Rest assured, there are certainly bummer alternatives. Either way, whatever you do, Yankees, do not take advantage of Brent Headrick's options for an ill-timed demotion. Warren could use some more time in the oven, but Headrick's crisp already.