MLB

Yankees upgrade bullpen with trade for Padres’ Enyel De Los Santos at deadline

PHILADELPHIA — As the Yankees made changes to their bullpen before Tuesday’s trade deadline, they shipped out lefty Caleb Ferguson to the Astros and added right-hander Enyel De Los Santos from San Diego.

Ferguson, acquired in the offseason from the Dodgers, was sent to Houston in exchange for a minor leaguer and international bonus pool money.

The 28-year-old struggled in his brief time in The Bronx, with a 1.500 WHIP in 33 ¹/₃ innings. He also allowed five homers.

Padres' reliever Enyel De Los Santos was trades to the Yankees on Tuesday.
Padres’ reliever Enyel De Los Santos was traded to the Yankees on July 30, 2024. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

“He never got to a good, dominating place,’’ Aaron Boone said Tuesday.

They already sent another lefty acquired from the Dodgers in the offseason, Victor Gonzalez, to the minors.

The Yankees had hoped one or both of the Dodgers imports would help replace Wandy Peralta, who signed with the Padres in the offseason and had provided some left-handed balance to the bullpen.

The only lefty remaining in the pen, Tim Hill, has pitched well since being acquired from the White Sox.

De Los Santos, 28, gives the Yankees another experienced arm in the pen and has pitched well over the past two-plus seasons, first with Cleveland then with San Diego.

Boone hopes De Los Santos can add some depth.

Enyel De Los Santos
Enyel De Los Santos USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Like Mark Leiter Jr., acquired in a trade with the Cubs on Tuesday, De Los Santos has a high strikeout rate, something the Yankees have mostly lacked among their relief corps this season.

In 40 ¹/₃ innings this season, De Los Santos has a 1.289 WHIP. Single-A right-hander Thomas Balboni, 24, was also sent to the Yankees from San Diego.

In exchange, the Yankees traded 27-year-old Triple-A outfielder Brandon Lockridge to the Padres. The 27-year-old Lockridge, a fifth-round pick by the Yankees in 2018, had a .787 OPS at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.

Even with the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, other arms could be on the way for the Yankees — with right-handers Scott Effross pitching at SWB after recovering from 2022 Tommy John surgery and December back surgery and Nick Burdi still on a rehab assignment with SWB following a hip injury. Ian Hamilton remains on the IL with a strained lat.

To make room for Leiter on the roster, Yoendrys Gomez was optioned to Triple-A.


Clay Holmes blew another save in Tuesday’s 7-6, 12-inning win over the Phillies, hurt again by soft contact.

Boone, though, said the closer isn’t struggling — pointing to the two infield hits and a grounder through the infield that ended up hurting Holmes in the ninth.

“He threw the ball great,’’ Boone said. “I know it’s not a popular [opinion]. That’s tough luck right there. They found a hole. It happens. I think he’s in a really good spot.”

Aaron Judge said of Holmes, “That’s our closer. We want him in any situation.”


Trent Grisham helped save the game with a diving catch in center of an Alec Bohm liner to end the 11th.


Former infielder Brett Phillips, who played parts of seven seasons in the majors, most recently with the Angels last year, signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.

The right-hander had been pitching for a semipro team and hit 97 mph.

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