Yankees activate David Robertson, option David Phelps

June 14, 2012 by Mike Axisa 22 Comments

The Yankees have officially activated David Robertson off the disabled list, the team announced. David Phelps was optioned to the minors to make room on the roster. He’ll get stretched out with High-A Tampa before joining Triple-A Empire State.

Robertson has been on the shelf for a little over a month, and his return will help lighten the late-inning load on Cory Wade, Boone Logan, et al. Those guys did a great job in his absence. Phelps had recorded one out and thrown a total of nine pitches sine May 28th, so it’s not a surprise he was sent down. He needs regular work and this is the best way to get it.

LiterallyFigurative

Sending Phelps down is for the best. He needs regular work, and wasn’t going to get it with this team.

WELCOME BACK D-ROB!
- jjyank
  
  Agreed whole-heartedly.
- BK2ATL
  
  +1
  
  We might have a logjam in the bullpen now, but oh well. Eppley’s pitched well, as has Rapada, Wade and Logan. Garcia’s our long man. Soriano now appears more comfortable closing. I think he mentioned something about Mariano helping him.
  
  Add Robertson to the mix and we have CoRaCoLoRoSo.
RetroRob

Phelps will be back in the next month or so. The Yankees starters have been going deep into the games of late, cutting down on the need for Phelps, but that trend will probably not continue.

I wonder which starter will lose his job when Phelps returns?
- RetroRob
  
  …*returns* to AAA, that is. Not sure who the five-man rotation is for the Empire State Yanks.
  - Phil
    
    Well Betances, Warren, and Mitchell won’t lose a job because of another player, and Ortiz has done very well this year. It will most likely be Figueroa who loses his job.
    - JohnnyC
      
      They’ve already started working Figueroa out of the pen.
- Midland TX
  
  Remember the Maine!
  - Havok9120
    
    …..
    
    A Spanish-American War reference? Kudos to you, sir.
Smallz

I reliezed a few days ago that Phelps was still in the major leagues. When is the last time he pitched?? Hes so much better off starting everyday in AAA
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  Well starting everyday will certainly build up his innings :)
Paul VuvuZuvella

Also looks like Higgy was promoted to AA. Could you imagine if he becomes the major league catcher out of the whole lot of catchers the team has had in the minors.
- JohnnyC
  
  Not unless he starts hitting. Seriously.
- Ralph
  
  probably a better chance for Colin Curtis to hit than that happening.
M-Three

I am very split on this move. Its good that Phelps will actually pitch but I hate he is being sent down.

He has pitched well this year but for some reason Girardi refused to use him late in close games. Instead he would use scrubs like Eppley and Garcia in spots where it would’ve been good for Phelps to get work and build some confidence.

Lets face it, the only reason that Garcia is still here is because Girardi likes him and the 4 mil he is making. The guy has no right being on this team still. We can all only hope that he and Eppley will gone once Joba and Aardsma are ready.
- 28 this year
  
  Calling Eppley a scrub right now is just wrong. He isn’t great by any means but right now he’s getting the job done and thats what counts.
  - BK2ATL
    
    Yeah, I guess Cory Wade and Clay Rapada are scrubs too…
- Ted Nelson
  
  Phelps got 33.2 IP in about a forth of a season before this recent lull.
  
  The reason Garcia is on the team is that he pitched very well last season, acceptably the season before, and very well when healthy the season before that.
- Steve (different one)
  
  So…even though the guys Girardi used pitched absolutely lights out, it was still the wrong move? Take about damned if you do….
- BK2ATL
  
  Phelps was brought up to be a long man and spot starter. Not sure how you missed how they’ve used him all year.
  
  He wasn’t brought up here to be brought in late in close games. We have people for that purpose already. He doesn’t have Phil Hughes 95-96 mph or Joba 97-98 mph short relief stuff.
  
  He wasn’t being used due to the starters all pitching deeper into games. Plus once Pettite was called up and once Hughes got things straightened out, there wasn’t a place for Phelps. It was best that he was sent down to stay sharp.
  
  Garcia has every right to be on this team. He’s a legit #6th starter, one that many contending teams would kill for. He had a rocky start to the season, but has settled down in relief. I’d have no problem if they plugged him in for a spot start here or there. The change of pace from the rest of the staff would work fine. Girardi and Cashman know very well the value of Garcia.
- RetroRob
  
  Garcia pitched fine for the Yankees last year and has been okay in limited action of the pen. Your solution: Cut Garcia and lose him and millions of dollars. Yankees solution: Keep both Garcia and Phelps.
  
  Not really a difficult decision.
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