3:29PM : Right-hander was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move for Carrasco Stanley Johnson Jersey , the Yankees announced. 12:56PM : Right-hander has opted out of his minor league deal with the Yankees and become a free agent, according to a report from . In addition, reports that the Yankees are selecting the contract of right-hander from Triple-A Scranton and that hell be active ahead of tonights game against the Dodgers. A corresponding 40-man move wont be nece sary as the Yankees have multiple spots available, but room will need to be made for Carrasco on the active roster. The 28-year-old Woodford was a first-round pick by the Cardinals back in 2015 who made his major league debut during the shortened 2020 campaign. That rookie campaign didnt go especially well as he posted a 5.57 ERA in a multi-inning relief role, but he did enjoy stronger seasons in 2021 and 22. Acro s those two years, Woodford pitched to a 3.26 ERA (121 ERA+) with a 3.93 FIP in 116 frames. He struck out just 15.4% of opponents faced during that time against a 7.5% walk rate, though he made up for his lack of strikeout stuff and pinpoint command in part thanks to a strong 45.8% groundball rate. His lack of strikeouts caught up to him after that, however, as he posted a lackluster 6.23 ERA with a 6.61 FIP over 47 2/3 innings of work in 2023 before being non-tendered by the Cardinals that November. Since then, Woodford has been bouncing around the league as a journeyman. The 2024 season saw him split time between the White Sox and the Pirates, for whom he pitched to a 7.97 ERA overall acro s 35 innings of work with a 4.94 FIP while in the majors. At the Triple-A level, the right-hander posted a solid enough 3.93 ERA acro s 94 innings. His results werent enough for him to keep a roster spot with the Pirates over the offseason, but after he was designated for a signment he elected free agency and found a minor league deal with the Rockies during the winter. Woodford was granted his release by the Rockies prior to Opening Day when he didnt break camp with the club and then latched on with the Yankees, for whom hes posted a 4.54 ERA in 39 2/3 innings of Triple-A work. It seemed po sible that Woodfords time to return to the majors had come when the Yankees were forced to use seven pitchers in last nights blowout lo s to the Dodgers, but the righty triggered his opt out clause and will now return to free agency after the Yankees decided to turn to Carrasco instead. It will be the 38-year-olds second stint with the Yankees this season. The right-hander made the Opening Day roster after a number of injuries left the Yanks with questions in their rotation, but Carrasco is far removed from his days as a mid-rotation arm in Cleveland at this point and surrendered a 5.91 ERA and 5.30 FIP acro s 32 innings of work with the Bronx earlier this year. Despite those lackluster numbers, Carrasco is a good bet to offer volume at a time where the Yankees bullpen is sure to be ga sed, and hes been universally hailed over his 16 seasons in the majors as a fantastic clubhouse presence. Jrue Holiday Jersey