Goody joins Yanks to provide bullpen depth
Pinder optioned to Triple-A; infielder Petit designated for assignment
MINNEAPOLIS -- Nick Goody was in camp with the Yankees this past spring, so the right-handed rookie was able to identify plenty of familiar faces when he walked into a big league clubhouse for the first time on Saturday afternoon at Target Field.
Goody was signed to a Major League contract and selected to the Yankees' 25-man roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, as the club looks to keep a fresh arm stashed in the back end of its bullpen.
"All the guys here, it's like a big family in the clubhouse," Goody said. "You can go to any one of these guys and ask them for advice. Pitching in Spring Training, you get a sense that you can compete at this level. Basically, just erase the names off the backs of the guys' jerseys and go out there. You're there for a reason."
Video: TB@NYY: Petit shows range with over-the-shoulder grab
In corresponding moves, right-hander Branden Pinder was optioned to Triple-A and infielder Gregorio Petit was designated for assignment. Pinder has posted a 2.92 ERA in 11 big league appearances this season, and he recorded four outs in Friday's 10-1 Yankees loss to the Twins.
"Obviously, Branden has thrown the ball very well, but we're trying to keep that fresh arm," manager Joe Girardi said. "It's been rotating. I give these guys a lot of credit because they understand. They have not gone down and pouted. They've gone and gotten back to work. It's the one guy that we can really rotate a little bit. As I told Branden, 'If you continue to pitch well, you'll be back.'"
Video: TEX@NYY: Pinder slips, makes great off-balance throw
The 24-year-old Goody started the season at Double-A Trenton, where he was 1-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 29 appearances. He had a 1.35 ERA in five outings at Triple-A, and with 70 strikeouts against 14 walks over his combined 48 1/3 innings, Goody had averaged 13 strikeouts per nine innings with a 1.014 WHIP.
"He's a strike-thrower," Girardi said. "He has pitched very well in Double-A and Triple-A. The strikeout-to-walk ratio has been outstanding. I liked what I saw in Spring Training from him."