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Yankees sign Tim Mayza, former Blue Jays reliever, to minor-league deal - Report
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    Yankees sign Tim Mayza, former Blue Jays reliever, to minor-league deal – Report

    Tim Mayza is staying in the AL East.

    According to a report by The Athletic‘s Katie Woo and Brendan Kuty on Wednesday, the New York Yankees have signed the former Toronto Blue Jays reliever to a minor-league contract.

    Mayza was designated for assignment by Toronto on June 29, then cleared waivers and was subsequently released on July 5.

    The 32-year-old struggled to replicate his stellar form of last season for Toronto, which earned him high-leverage outings throughout the 2023 campaign. His ERA ballooned throughout his final five outings with the Blue Jays, rising to nearly 25 over a tough four-inning stretch.

    For the season, the southpaw carried an 8.03 ERA over 24.2 innings.

    “It comes down to performance,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Mayza was designated for assignment. “It’s tough for Timmy. He’s been here for such a long time, been such a big part of our bullpen and our team.

    “(It’s) been a rough year for him, so, hopefully, a change of scenery is good for him, as much as we hate seeing him go.”

    Selected by the Blue Jays in the 12th round of the 2013 draft, Mayza pitched with Toronto for parts of seven seasons, racking up 283.2 innings with a 3.87 ERA and 292 strikeouts.

    The Yankees bullpen has recently undergone a barrage of injuries, with Ian Hamilton, Jonathan Loáisiga and Nick Burdi all landing on the injured list in recent weeks.

    New York is likely to have Mayza start in triple-A with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees rank ninth in bullpen ERA (3.64), but their lefties have posted only a 4.16 mark.

    Things have not been going well in the Bronx after a quick start. The Yankees have lost 17 of their last 23 games and have fallen 3.0 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.

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    The New York Yankees have made a move to bolster their bullpen depth by signing former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza to a minor-league deal, according to a recent report. Mayza, who missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery, will look to make a comeback with the Yankees organization.

    Mayza, 29, was a reliable arm out of the Blue Jays bullpen before his injury, posting a 4.40 ERA in 51 appearances in 2019. He was off to a strong start in 2020 before suffering the elbow injury that required surgery. The left-hander has shown the ability to get both left-handed and right-handed hitters out, making him a valuable asset for any team.

    The Yankees are hoping that Mayza can regain his form and provide some much-needed depth in their bullpen. With the uncertainty surrounding the health of some of their key relievers, adding a proven arm like Mayza could prove to be a smart move for the team.

    While Mayza will start out in the minor leagues, he will have the opportunity to work his way back to the majors and contribute to the Yankees’ bullpen down the stretch. If he can stay healthy and regain his pre-injury form, Mayza could be a key piece for the Yankees as they look to make a push for the postseason.

    Overall, the signing of Tim Mayza is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Yankees. If he can return to form and provide quality innings out of the bullpen, he could prove to be a valuable addition to the team. Only time will tell if Mayza can make a successful comeback and help the Yankees in their quest for a playoff berth.