Paul Blackburn landed with the New York Yankees, stepping into a bullpen role after being designated for assignment by the Mets. He traveled through Idaho to meet New York in Tampa, aiming to contribute length and veteran savvy for the stretch run. The move came with New York also designating Allan Winans for Triple-A, signaling a shuffle to shore up bullpen depth and keep options open as injuries and inconsistencies linger.

Meanwhile, the club rolled out rehab notes on Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough, both funneling toward returns that could bolster late-inning and multi-inning leverage. Boston looms as the series opponent, and Atlanta’s prior testing of Blackburn’s tracks record was cited as context for his new chapter. The moves underscore a Yankees bullpen in flux, prioritizing length, versatility, and health ahead of September call-ups.