Because of the numbers game, the New York Yankees can’t afford to hand spots on the 40-man roster to all their talented pitchers.
Other teams, in this particular case their crosstown rivals New York Mets, are taking advantage of that.
“RHP Stephen Ridings was claimed off waivers by the #Mets today,” SI.com’s Max Goodman tweeted.
Some #Yankees news:
RHP Stephen Ridings was claimed off waivers by the #Mets today.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) November 15, 2022
Ridings has had his fair share of injury issues since the end of the 2021 campaign.
In fact, he didn’t pitch at all in 2022.
Ridings missed the entire 2022 season due to a right shoulder impingement.
That injury could be problematic if it doesn’t heal properly.
His medicals suggest, however, that he should be ready for the start of spring training.
Ridings is a 27-year-old reliever with a talented right arm.
Yankees fans surely remember him throwing 100-mph darts in 2021, at the MLB level.
In five innings last year, he conceded just one run and struck out seven.
He Should Be Ready To Pitch By Spring Training
He had no MLB action this year but did make it back in time for a clean inning in Double-A and another one in Triple-A.
Despite having minor league options remaining, Ridings is good enough to compete for a spot in the Mets’ Opening Day bullpen.
They are losing Trevor May, Seth Lugo, and other veterans in the bullpen via free agency.
Bringing in Ridings is a way to have some depth should they fail to re-sign their own relievers or bring other ones as replacements.
His strikeout ability alone makes him worth waiting for, and the fact he has minor league options is the icing on the cake.
Ridings is a really savvy addition by the Mets.
NEXT: Chris Bassitt Makes An Expected Decision