Yankees place Kendrys Morales on 10-day IL, recall Mike Tauchman

The Yankees made a number of roster moves on Thursday afternoon, most notably placing Kendrys Morales on the 10-day injured list with a strained left calf. The team announced that the move is retroactive to June 12. As corresponding move, the club recalled Mike Tauchman from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Morales, 35, joined the Yankees on May 14. In 75 plate appearances with the team, he hit a paltry .177/.320/.242 batting line with just two extra-base hits. The Yankees took a flyer on the veteran designated hitter, but it didn’t work. Calf strains are tricky and easy to re-injure, as recently evidenced by Troy Tulowitzki and Robinson Cano. This trip to the IL could spare Morales from being designated for assignment when Giancarlo Stanton returns.

Tauchman, 28, had some success in the big leagues earlier this season, hitting .211/.306/.411 with four homers. His 91 wRC+ registered as below average, but it proved difficult to complain about his performance as a fill-in. The outfielder has played well for the RailRiders, posting a 142 wRC+ over 22 games. You can get into Tauchman’s mindset here on Pinstripe Alley’s A Call Away podcast.

As for the rest of the roster moves, the Yankees swapped out a pair of left-handed relievers. The team optioned Stephen Tarpley last night and called up Nestor Cortes Jr. this afternoon. The revolving door in the bullpen continues.