Yankees learned the harsh Rico Garcia reality the NY Mets already knew

The New York Mets DFA’d Rico Garcia before the All-Star Break with a 0.00 ERA in 2 appearances. His lack of minor league options made it difficult to keep him around. Garcia could have surely stayed with the Mets organization if not for those pesky New York Yankees who plucked him off the waiver wire earlier this week.

Bullpen problems of their own, the loss felt greater than it actually is. Even if we had to sink into our seats watching Alex Carrillo on Friday, at least there is some solace knowing the Yankees didn’t steal a gem. After one game, Garcia is already out of the Bronx. The team designated him for assignment as quickly as they could.

The Yankees learned what the Mets already knew the hard way

Garcia was the second pitcher out of Aaron Boone’s bullpen for the Yankees on Friday in a bullpen game. He walked two Atlanta Braves in inning number one. Back-to-back hits and a three run blast by Ozzie Albies turned Garcia’s major league goose eggs on his ERA into a crooked number. Garcia managed to retire the next three batters. He was then asked to get two more outs the following inning.

A lot of the talk amongst Mets fans on Friday was the lack of preparedness by the team. Carrillo being the first out of the bullpen in the fifth inning in relief of Sean Manaea, with the Mets leading 2-1 feels wrong. His night was even more disastrous than Garcia’s in Atlanta. Around retiring 4 batters, he gave up 3 home runs and 5 total earned runs in what should be the last time we see him for a while; if at all.

Both New York teams got a dose of the truth to start the second half. It doesn’t matter how well-rested the bullpen arms are. The quality just isn’t there at the moment for either club. Injuries are catching up with the impending MLB trade deadline being the opportunity to correct what’s wrong. 

Garcia was never a solution for the Mets or Yankees. Both teams, with very different results, came to the same conclusion. The Mets avoided the shrapnel. The Yankees received an all-too-familiar wake-up call.