Baltimore Orioles v New York Yankees / Jim McIsaac/GettyImages

Two years ago, Ron Marinaccio strode into Yankees spring training as the hot homegrown bullpen name on the backfields, and lived up to the hype by stealing a roster spot. A lifelong fan, he seemed set up for success instantly, riding a ridiculous changeup to 22 hits allowed in 44 innings, striking out 56 men. Batters hit just .149 against him during his rookie season — though, yes, the 24 walks were glaring. He wasn’t perfect.

Still, it seemed likely Marinaccio — again, in just his first year of team control — would be a long-term piece, and would be intimately involved in the next great version of the Yankees’ bullpen. Instead, something derailed around the same time he suffered a shin injury that knocked him out of October that fall.

When he returned in 2023, he was historically good in April (just four hits allowed in 47 plate appearances), but things started to slip in May (5.28 ERA). Instead of showing him compassion, the Yankees seemed to decide that, no matter whether he was hot or cold, his minor-league options had become the most valuable piece of his repertoire. Marinaccio unfairly yo-yo’d back and forth throughout 2023 until he finally succumbed to the madness, regressing unilaterally and losing all control at Triple-A towards the end of the season.

In 2024, he was trusted for low leverage and nothing more during a few disparate stints with the big club, reportedly reacting quite strongly to a repetitive early-season demotion. At the time, he was carrying a 1.42 ERA.

On Friday, the inevitable hammer fell. Cody Poteet, whose rehab clock had expired, was activated and demoted back down to Triple-A. In order to clear up a 40-man spot for Poteet, Marinaccio was designated for assignment and will be exposed to waivers. Teams would be bonkers not to claim him.

Yankees’ Ron Marinaccio DFA hints at postseason roster?

Not that Marinaccio had any chance of being considered for October duty, but perhaps this 40-man-clearing move indicates that a few other players on the active roster might be up for inclusion.

Tim Mayza, a soft-tossing lefty typically used to soak up innings, felt like a lower-risk DFA. He’s still around. Would the Yankees really carry him in October over the likes of Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr., just because of his handedness and veteran pedigree?

Regardless, the Yankees have lost both Marinaccio and the man he was initially demoted for this season, Michael Tonkin, in recent weeks as they’ve looked to solidify new roles for their big-league veterans. This is certainly not the end to the ride we envisioned when Marinaccio first emerged, but it’s felt like a logical path for several months now.