Yanks bolster 'pen with trio of callups, one more on way

NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi now has a lot more options in the bullpen.

The Yankees called up left-hander Cesar Cabral and right-handers Dellin Betances and Brett Marshall when rosters expanded on Sunday. Preston Claiborne will rejoin the Yankees on Monday after Class A Tampa's season ends on Sunday, giving the Yankees' manager 11 relievers to deploy late in games.

"You try to get their feet wet," Girardi said. "You try to pick your spots, and as they succeed, maybe put them in a little more difficult spots as time goes on. I don't think you just throw them into the fire right away."

Betances (two-thirds of an inning, 54.00 ERA) and Marshall (5 2/3 innings, 7.94 ERA) have each had one stint with the Yankees this season, but Cabral will be making his Major League debut the first time he takes the mound. Cabral has a 5.40 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings between three levels of the Yankees' organization this season.

"It's exciting, because I worked for this," Cabral said. "I want to do my work right now, because they gave me the opportunity."

Betances, who was converted to a reliever this season after spending most of his career as a starter, was 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 108 strikeouts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Marshall has worked as a starter all season, compiling a 7-10 record and a 5.13 ERA.

The addition of Marshall gives the Yankees another long reliever to pair with Adam Warren. Girardi said it could also change the way he uses David Huff, as he could use him more as a situational left-hander and less as a long man.

Girardi said the addition of fresh arms wouldn't change his strategy too much, though.

"Now is not the time to audition, because we're fighting to get into the playoffs," Girardi said. "So I'm going to use them if there's an opportunity, but not to say, 'Let's just see what he does in this situation.' I'm going to go with the guys that have been here, for the most part."