With spring training 2019 almost in the books, the New York Yankees booted a trio of roster hopefuls from big-league camp on Thursday.
Ryan Lavarnway, Matt Lipka, and Billy Burns are the victims of the latest round of New York Yankees roster cuts.
The Bombers’ PR department tweeted out the news Thursday afternoon:
Following today’s game, the Yankees reassigned OF Billy Burns, OF Matt Lipka and C Ryan Lavarnway to minor league camp.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) March 21, 2019
Lavarnway, a 31-year-old catcher, was having a good camp at the dish. He went 7-for-20 with a pair of doubles and a mere four strikeouts.
Austin Romine is clearly Gary Sanchez’s understudy, and the Yanks got a taste of Kyle Higashioka’s pop in 2018. Still, Lavarnway is only an injury or two away from the Bronx.
Since 2011, he’s had cups of coffee with five MLB teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. In his 390 major-league at-bats, he’s slashed .208/.268/.326 with seven home runs and 43 RBI.
[membership level="0"] [/membership]Lipka delivered a solid Grapefruit League as well. The 26-year-old outfielder hit two long balls as part of a 9-for-34 performance.
In nine minor-league seasons, his slash line is .248/.308/.341.
Burns is probably the most disappointed of the three roster cuts. With Aaron Hicks on the injured list and Clint Frazier clearly struggling, the 29-year-old had a sliver of an opening.
However, he batted just .125/.222/.156 in 15 games, making the Yankees’ decision to send him down an easy one.
Burns hit .294 in 520 at-bats for the Oakland Athletics in 2015, placing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. Oh, and don’t forget that he once stole 74 bases in a minor-league season (2013).
Assuming he does anything at all in triple-A, he’s likely the first man up if the Bombers need outfield help.
