Alfredo Aceves’ second stint with the Yankees was a short one, as the veteran right-hander has been designated for assignment after throwing 19 innings for New York.
Aceves posted a 6.52 ERA with six homers allowed to earn the demotion, although his 16/4 K/BB ratio was very good. He’s still just 31 years old, but Aceves has a 5.39 ERA in 140 innings dating back to 2012 and his reputation as a semi-crazy person probably won’t help him keep another gig.
The Rangers have signed catcher Jeff Mathis to a two-year contract, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal is pending a physical.
Mathis turns 36 years old at the end of March and has a career .564 OPS across 14 seasons, but he is well-regarded for his defense and ability to handle a pitching staff.
The arrival of Mathis could mean the Rangers are moving on from Robinson Chirinos behind the plate, as he is now a free agent. The Rangers could go after another catcher to complement Mathis or just have Isiah Kiner-Falefa back up Mathis. Though Kiner-Falefa mostly played elsewhere, including three spots across the infield, he did rack up over 300 defensive innings behind the plate in 2018.
