White Sox claim Toms River's Ron Marinaccio off waivers from Yankees

NEW YORK – Designated for assignment last week by the Yankees, reliever Ron Marinaccio was claimed off waivers Monday by the Chicago White Sox.

The right-hander from Toms River was frequently shuttled back and forth this year between the Bronx and Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Last Thursday, the Yankees reinstated right-hander Cody Poteet from the injured list and optioned him to Triple-A – a move that required moving someone off the 40-man roster.

That meant goodbye to Marinaccio, 29, who posted a 3.86 ERA in 16 games with the Yanks this season, with 25 strikeouts and 10 walks in 23.1 innings.

At Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year, Marinaccio posted a 2.04 ERA in 35 games, with 41 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39.2 innings.

Marinaccio should have a lot more opportunity to carve a role with the rebuilding White Sox, who just tied the 1962 Mets' modern-day MLB seasonal record with 120 losses.

A 19 ^th round Yankees draft pick out of the University of Delaware in 2017, Marinaccio became a trusted rookie bullpen presence in 2022, posting a 2.05 ERA in 40 games.

But a late-season shin injury kept him off the postseason roster, and the shin issue lingered over the winter, impacting the start of his 2023 season.

Projections: Yankees roster projections for playoffs as they clinch AL postseason berth

Marinaccio did not make this year’s Opening Day roster, and he was quickly surpassed on the depth chart by some recycled relievers – including White Sox discard Jake Cousins.

Cousins was recently placed on the IL with a pectoral strain, but the Yanks are hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the AL Division Series.

Meanwhile, with the Yanks poised to clinch the AL East, Luke Weaver has fully claimed the closer’s role over the still-struggling Clay Holmes, now in a setup spot.

Since taking over ninth inning duties Sept. 6, Weaver is 2-0 with four saves and a hold in seven games, tossing 10 scoreless innings and strikeout out 22 batters (vs. three walks), holding opponents to an .091 batting average.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: White Sox claim Toms River's Ron Marinaccio off waivers from Yankees