LHP Tommy Layne pitched the ninth inning Saturday and after the game, the Yankees announced they were designating him for assignment. Layne joined the team off waivers from the Boston Red Sox in August and this season has a 7.62 ERA in 19 appearances.

LHP Tommy Layne was claimed off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox and was in uniform for the Tuesday game against his old team. He came on in relief in the fifth inning and served up a long single off the wall in left field to David Ortiz. He then retired the next four hitters in his first outing since pitching for the Red Sox on July 30.

The New York Yankees signed Tommy Layne to a contract on Tuesday and optioned fellow left-hander Richard Bleier to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Layne was designated for assignment and released by Boston last week. The 31-year-old posted an 0-1 record with a 3.77 ERA in 28 2/3 innings with the Red Sox this season.Bleier did not have a decision while amassing a 3.38 ERA in 13 1/3 innings with the Yankees this season.New York also claimed right-hander Blake Parker off waivers from Seattle on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Parker worked just one scoreless inning this season and is 2-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 74 1/3 innings during his career.

LHP Tommy Layne, designated for assignment after the Monday game, was released by the Red Sox on Saturday. Layne was 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA over 34 appearances this season.

LHP Tommy Layne was designated for assignment after Monday's game, clearing a spot for newly acquired LHP Fernando Abad. Layne was 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA over 34 appearances this season.

Layne pitched two-thirds of an inning to pick up the win in Saturday's victory over the Blue Jays.

Layne is the classic lefty specialist -- he induced a double-play grounder out of Toronto's Ryan Goins Saturday -- who has held left-handed batters to .148 this season. He might get a save opportunity if the match-up is right, but he's best deployed mid-inning when a left-handed hitter is at the plate.

Layne was recalled by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Layne has worked a 3.51 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks over 33.1 innings with the Red Sox this season, but has been pitching at Triple-A Pawtucket since Jul. 30. He'll add depth to a struggling Boston bullpen that lost Koji Uehara for the season on Monday.

Layne was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.

The Red Sox claimed Jean Machi earlier in the week, and Layne will be optioned to clear room on the 25-man roster. The 30-year-old left-hander had been a solid option out of the bullpen, giving up 11 hits and three runs in nine innings in the month of July.

Layne allowed three hits and one inherited runner to score in one inning in Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

Layne, who has been terrific as a lefty specialist, was needed to face right-handed batter Chase Headley, who stroked an RBI double. Righties are slugging .531 off Layne this season. That he was in the game to face Headley speaks to Boston's lack of bullpen depth.

Layne pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up a save Sunday. He set down the side in order, striking out two.

Layne got the save opportunity Sunday because Koji Uehara had pitched two consecutive days and three of the last four, making him unavailable for duty. It's unknown if Layne is the de facto fill-in closer going forward, or if manager John Farrell will consider the matchups in situations where Uehara's not available. We suspect it's the latter.

Layne pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's win over the Athletics. He walked one and struck out two in an eighth-inning appearance.

With Junichi Tazawa unavailable, it was notable that both Layne and Matt Barnes (a third of an inning) were entrusted to do the setup work for Koji Uehara. Layne has given up two runs on seven hits and four walks in 12.1 innings over his last 16 appearances.

Layne has allowed one run in eight appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket. In the time, he's given up three hits and two walks in 6.1 innings.

With Boston's starting rotation pitching better these days, the bullpen arms are slotting into defined roles. Layne is becoming the choice when manager John Farrell is need of a lefty matchup out of the pen. Left-handed batters are hitting just .182 off him.

Layne was recalled to the major league roster Wednesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Layne has been impressive in limited action with Triple-A Pawtucket, striking out six over five scoreless innings, so he'll get another shot to stick with the big league bullpen. The lefty will likely pitch in lower-leverage situations for the time being.

The Red Sox optioned Layne to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Layne gave up three earned runs in Sunday's game after opening the season with three scoreless outings out of the bullpen, so the Red Sox decided to send him down to open a roster spot for Koji Uehara, who will be activated from the disabled list Monday. The Red Sox still have two left-handers in their bullpen, but Layne could be called up again at some point later this season.

Layne threw a scoreless 1.2 innings in Friday night's 19-inning win over the Yankees.

The left-hander has been used three times, all scoreless, in the first four games. He's allowed a hit and a walk while striking out four. He may not stick in the bullpen long term as the Red Sox will need to make room for Joe Kelly (biceps) on Saturday and Koji Uehara (hamstring) early next week.

Manager John Farrell indicated a preference to have two left-handers in the bullpen to start the season, which favors Layne heading north with the team, the Boston Globe reports.

Farrell and the Red Sox will see a couple of left-handed lineups -- the Phillies and the Yankees -- early in the season, hence his desire for multiple left-handed relievers. Layne and Craig Breslow are the top of that list.

Layne is in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot and has been receiving rave reviews from manager John Farrell, the Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

With Layne pitching well this spring, the Red Sox are considering sending Robbie Ross to Triple-A to begin the season. If that happens, Layne will likely serve as the second lefty behind Craig Breslow.

Layne pitched a scoreless inning in Wednesday's spring game against the Yankees. He's allowed one run on a hit and a walk while striking out four in three spring games.

Layne was an effective lefty out of the pen over the final half of the 2014 season, but as someone who has minor-league options remaining, may find himself beginning 2015 at Triple-A Pawtucket. Left-hander Craig Breslow is a lock to start the season with Boston while Robbie Ross and Anthony Varvaro, a right-hander that's effective against lefties, are also in the mix.

Layne made his eighth consecutive scoreless appearance and picked up his fourth hold in Friday night's loss to the Mariners.

Layne has been elevated to work important innings, though is primarily brought into face left-handed batters. In 8.1 innings this month, he's allowed one run on three hits and four walks while striking out eight.

Layne pitched a scoreless inning and picked up the win Tuesday night.

Layne has been pretty effective out of the pen since being called up to Boston earlier this month, prompting Manager John Farrell to give him some important set up innings.