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After Angel Chivilli promotion, Yankees could eye another Rockies pitcher via trade
TL;DR
The New York Yankees promoted Angel Chivilli from Triple-A to replace Yerry De Los Santos on April 15. Chivilli, a former Rockies pitcher, has a 6.18 ERA in 73 MLB appearances.
The New York Yankees made a minor bullpen move on April 15. They promoted Angel Chivilli from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take the place of Yerry De Los Santos. The right-hander was optioned to Triple-A in a straight-up roster swap of two low-leverage relief pitchers.
Chivilli, 23, debuted with the Colorado Rockies in 2024. Heâs 3-8 with a 6.18 ERA in 73 big league appearances, all with Colorado.
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Despite his poor surface stats â not unusual for a pitcher who calls hitter-friendly Coors Field home â the Yankees liked what they saw in Chivilli enough to acquire him from the Rockies for minor league first baseman T.J. Rumfield in January.
Could another Yankees-Rockies trade be coming down the pipe?
The Yankeesâ bullpen is off to a fair start, going 4-4 with a 3.75 ERA that ranks 13th in MLB. Their underlying stats (21.8 strikeout percentage, 19th in MLB; 8.9 percent walk rate, 10th) are neither impressive nor a liability in mid-April.
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The Yankees also have a flame-throwing reliever, Yovanny Cruz, at Triple-A in addition to prospects Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez in the RailRidersâ rotation. Each youngster could easily be the next choice to help Aaron Boone add to his bullpenâs swing-and-miss potential.
But if GM Brian Cashman wants to look outside the organization for veteran help, he could turn to a familiar trade partner for a familiar name: Antonio Senzatela.
As noted by Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, Senzatela is up to 97 mph with his fastball in his first full season pitching out of the Rockiesâ bullpen, with more extension and a new pitch mix.
The veteran is also making $12 million in the final guaranteed year of his $50 million contract with Colorado, so âthe Yankees taking (Senzatela) off the Rockiesâ hands early could save Colorado decent money,â Dierkes notes.
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How early?
De Los Santos is the second pitcher the Yankees have returned to the minor leagues in two days. Jake Bird â another former Rockies reliever â is the other. He was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
Revolving-door bullpens are hardly uncommon in MLB. As teams look to keep their high-leverage relievers fresh for a deep October run, lower-leverage relievers routinely swap in and out.
Chivilli threw 8.1 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts (two hits, two walks) at Triple-A. He also allowed 11 earned runs on 11 hits and and three walks across eight innings in spring training. Those numbers offer little indication about whether he could be a long-term solution in the Bronx.
Senzatela, 31, hasnât allowed a run in 12.1 innings to start the season. There isnât any smoke around this trade rumor, let alone fire, yet. But neither is there a more likely trade candidate occupying in any MLB bullpen.
Q&A
What are Angel Chivilli's career statistics in Major League Baseball?
Angel Chivilli has a career record of 3-8 with a 6.18 ERA in 73 appearances in Major League Baseball.
Why did the Yankees acquire Angel Chivilli from the Rockies?
The Yankees acquired Angel Chivilli from the Rockies because they saw potential in him despite his poor surface stats, trading minor league first baseman T.J. Rumfield for him.
Who did the Yankees replace with Angel Chivilli in their bullpen?
Angel Chivilli replaced Yerry De Los Santos in the Yankees' bullpen after his promotion from Triple-A.
