Yankees' roster purge continues with most baffling DFA of the season

On Tuesday morning, the Yankees looked in the mirror and completed some semi-embarrassing dirty work, demoting trade deadline acquisition Jake Bird to Triple-A following the walk-off homer he surrendered to Josh Jung in extras to kick off the Rangers series.

When Bird was acquired ... five days ago, he was thought of as an upside play and the third biggest bullpen addition of the Yankees' deadline. Two implosions later, and the Bombers realized they had more work to do (quickly) and preferred Brent Headrick, the lefty. Mark Leiter Jr. and his impressive K rate/unimpressive other numbers will be returning from the injured list on Tuesday night, directly replacing him.

But the Yankees took it one step further. Despite clearing a path for Leiter Jr. with an already controversial demotion, they also DFA'd reigning long man JT Brubaker, who's been ... totally and completely fine, except for one bleak outing against Oakland.

That's right. The Yankees traded an asset for Brubaker last spring (Keiner Delgado), waited through his whole Tommy John rehab, turned him into an innings eater with a sinker that somewhat resembled late-career Derek Lowe's, watched him post a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings, and then cut him loose on Tuesday morning without another newcomer to accommodate.

Instead of an exciting new addition, it'll be Yerry de los Santos rejoining the bullpen. The Yankees were able to bring him back early by using Austin Slater's injury to create a loophole excuse. Well done? It's clear de los Santos is a strong long man himself, but the Yankees — hardly pitching rich — have now willingly given up depth pieces in Brubaker and Marcus Stroman in a four-day span. The team is 0-4 since letting Stroman loose. Curse of the Stro.

Yankees DFA JT Brubaker, bring back Yerry de los Santos as part of massive Aaron Judge roster shuffle

It's a tough life, this whole "Major League Baseball" thing. You do your job like Brubaker. You watch other people fail to do their jobs, like a few of his teammates. You lose your roster spot anyway just because the math doesn't completely work.

Based on the way the Yankees have played lately, though, perhaps it's Brubaker's teammates who are jealous of him and not the other way around.

Expect Headrick to get demoted when Jonathan Loaisiga returns to full health - if he ever does.