BREAKING: Yankees Dump Infielder to Make Room for Stanton’s Return — You Won’t Believe Who Got the Axe!

Pablo Reyes scored the Yankees’ lone run in a 1-0 win on Thursday night. Just four days later, he was designated for assignment. The move was made to clear space on the 26-man roster for Giancarlo Stanton, who was activated ahead of Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium.

The decision wasn’t a surprise. Reyes had long been seen as the most likely player to lose his spot. He had limited playing time and managed just a .194 batting average with a .242 on-base percentage over 31 plate appearances. He didn’t make much impact with the bat, and his opportunities were few and far between. The outcome had been expected for days.

Reyes brought reliable effort off the bench and showed versatility with nine appearances in the outfield, in addition to time around the infield. But with Oswald Peraza—despite hitting just .207—still on the roster as the team’s primary backup shortstop, Reyes became the odd man out. His effort wasn’t the issue—his role just no longer fit the team’s needs.

Reyes, speaking after Thursday’s game, accepted the situation with professionalism. “That’s something I can’t control,” he said. “Roster decisions are for the front office. What I can control is showing up, preparing, and staying ready for opportunities like tonight.”

And he did just that. He gave full effort, helped secure a win, and played with intensity. But roster decisions are based on fit, not just hustle. With Stanton back and daily lineup configurations getting tighter, the Yankees didn’t have a spot for a utility man who wasn’t projected to play much.

If Thursday was Reyes’ final moment in pinstripes, he made it meaningful. Baseball doesn’t always reward effort—but it rarely forgets it.