NEW YORK — The New York Mets designated veteran right-hander Rico Garcia for assignment on July 11, 2025, in order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Kodai Senga’s return from the injured list. Garcia had made a brief but intriguing appearance in Queens after his contract was selected on July 3, posting 4⅔ scoreless innings in two outings with impressive strikeout numbers, including career-best fastball velocity averaging 96.1 mph and touching 98 mph . Despite this strong showing, his lack of minor-league options forced the Mets into a roster crunch that led to his DFA.

Upon being placed on waivers, the Yankees acted swiftly to add Garcia to their bullpen depth. At 31 years old, Garcia brings a diverse repertoire—mixing a four-seamer, curveball, changeup, and lately, a refined slider/cutter blend—that has generated swing-and-miss potential despite some past command weaknesses. His career MLB ERA stands at 6.47 over 40⅓ innings across six clubs, but his recent Triple-A numbers (4.45 ERA, 27.4% strikeout rate in Syracuse, with room for command improvement) suggest an upside worth exploring.

For the Yankees, claiming Garcia represents a low-risk, high-reward move at the trade deadline. They gain a power-armed reliever with fresh velocity and multiple pitches, who could slot into middle relief situational roles or even battle for late-inning innings if his command stabilizes. With the Yankees juggling bullpen arms amid a competitive playoff chase, Garcia provides another option—one born out of timely roster maneuvering and the Yankees’ continued pursuit of pitching upgrades.

The Yankees will need to clear an active roster spot since Garcia is out of options.

(Top Image Credit: MiLB.com)