New York Yankees DFA De La Rosa, Sign Garrison

The Yankees DFA’d LHP Wilkin De La Rosa in order to make room on the 40-man roster for LHP Steve Garrison, whom they claimed off of waivers from the San Diego Padres, according to Mike Ashmore via twitter.

Garrison is not considered a top prospect and has struggled in the minor leagues recently. Former Padres’ GM and current Yankee executive Kevin Towers must have liked him though for the Yankees to risk losing De La Rosa. The Yankees likely want to keep De La Rosa, but risked losing him to add Garrison.

De La Rosa, 25, has struggled in Double A this season and is under investigation by MLB for illegally injecting teammate Ivan Nova with a B-12 shot (B-12 is legal, but must be administered by a doctor). In 72.2 innings this year he has only managed a 5.33 ERA and has a 56-41 strikeout-to-walk-ratio.

Garrison, 24 in two days, is younger and already has experience at the Triple A level. His numbers are bad, a 8.87 ERA in 22.1 innings, but his BB/9 is less and he’s had success at the lower levels.

Essentially what the Yankees have done is swapped one lefty reliever for another with slightly more upside. It is possible that they can keep De La Rosa as well.

Related Stories

• February 9, 2010 -- Looking at the Lefties
• January 1, 2010 -- John Sickels Ranks the Yanks
• December 31, 2009 -- Newman's Notes on Yankees Prospects