The Yankees have designated 25-year old righty reliever Ryan Pope for assignment. Pope pitched in 40 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 2-3 with 6 saves, a 5.12 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He pitched in 144 games (63 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he was 21-28 with 23 saves, a 4.34 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. This is no loss for the Yankees as Pope didn’t figure in their plans for the future.

UPDATE: (9/7/2011) - Ryan Pope has accepted an outright assignment to AAA.

The Yankees have released 33-year old righty reliever Buddy Carlyle and 27-year old lefty starting pitcher Greg Smith. Carlyle pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Yankees earlier this year and he was 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He also pitched in 27 games (2 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees this year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 3.98 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Greg Smith pitched in 13 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees this year and he was 3-3 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Smith was quickly signed to a minor league deal by the Red Sox who are starting him out in AAA.

25-year old righty reliever Ryan Flannery has finally graduated to pitching in AA-ball. It’s not his fault though as Flannery has pitched well his whole minor league career so far. Flannery has pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 3-0 with 14 saves, a 2.28 EA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 136 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 17-9 with 41 saves, a 2.16 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Flannery is a relief pitcher to keep your eyes on as he could get to New York in the next couple of years.

The Yankees have released 35-year old lefty reliever J.C. Romero. Romero pitched in 11 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees this year and he was 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Despite the good numbers in the minors, Romero was cut loose because the Yankees didn’t think he could help them right now. The Yankees will continue to look for another lefty reliever to team with Boone Logan in the bullpen.

The Yankees have released 36-year old lefty reliever Randy Flores. Flores pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees and he was 1-3 with 4 saves, a 3.07 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has now pitched in 48 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 2-5 with 4 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The Yankees essentially did Flores a favor as he might be able to get a major league contract from a team needing a lefty reliever.