MINNEAPOLIS -- The New York Yankees reunion with Alfonso Soriano is likely over after the team designated the struggling outfielder for assignment on Sunday. Soriano returned to New York midway through last season and sparked the offence with 17 home runs in 58 games. But Soriano hit just .221 this season with six homers and 23 RBIs in 67 games. The Yankees announced the move shortly after acquiring Arizona right-handed starter Brandon McCarthy for lefty Vidal Nuno. "We designated Soriano, which is extremely difficult because hes been a great Yankee and a great player," New York manager Joe Girardi said before Sundays game at Minnesota. Sorianos playing time decreased considerably this year after New York signed Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran in the off-season. He recently has been splitting time in right field with Ichiro Suzuki since Beltran was injured and is now limited to designated hitter. But the slugger who started his major league career with the Yankees in 1999 and has 412 career homers has not connected since May 17 and has struck out 71 times in 226 at-bats. The 38-year-old Soriano is in the final year of an eight-year, $136 million deal he signed with the Chicago Cubs, who are paying $13 million of his $18 million salary this year. The Yankees have 10 days to trade or place Soriano on unconditional waivers. If he clears waivers, New York can release him. "For Soriano, its a guy that came in and did a tremendous job for us last year, has had his struggles this year and hes a guy thats used to playing every day," Girardi said. "Wasnt every day for him, maybe it was harder for him to get going, not sure. Im sure hes extremely disappointed. Soriano always takes things with class." The Yankees recalled pitcher Bruce Billings from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Billings pitched in one game for New York this season, allowing four runs in four innings on April 25 against the Los Angeles Angels. Girardi has an open spot in the starting rotation after Nuno was traded to the Diamondbacks. Nuno was slated to start on Monday and McCarthy pitched on Thursday. New York wont force McCarthy into Nunos spot on short rest. Billings -- who has started 11 games in Triple-A -- wont be a candidate to start on Monday, Girardi said. An announcement will be made later. "The taxing of our bullpen kind of forced us to make this move, in a sense," Girardi said. "Im not saying it wouldnt have happened, but we decided we had to make it today because we need to." Jaxson Hayes Pelicans Jersey . Catch the action live on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Wild lead the Northwest Division and look to get back into the win column after having a season-high seven-game winning streak cut short with Tuesdays 2-1 loss at Winnipeg in the finale of a five-game road trip (4-1-0). Josh Gray Pelicans Jersey . Dwyane Wade took over in the fourth quarter. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Jrue-Holiday-City-Edition-Jersey/ .Johnny there, who knew he had that speed? teammate Tommy Wingels said.Scott and Matt Irwin were unlikely goal-scorers Tuesday night as the previously stingy San Jose Sharks finally sprung a leak or two, blowing a pair of three-goal leads before coming away with a 6-5 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals. Lonzo Ball Pelicans Jersey .com) - Semyon Varlamov more than earned his third shutout of the season as he made a career-high 54 saves to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Derrick Favors Pelicans Jersey . Spezza scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes left and Stephane Da Costa had the other two goals to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.It appears Alexander Semin can pack his bags for Sochi after all. According to Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo Sports, the Carolina Hurricanes forward has been added to the Russian Olympic hockey team. The report indicates Moscow Dynamo forward Sergei Soin was injured last week, opening the door for Semin.dddddddddddd. In 36 games for the Hurricanes this season, Semin has scored nine goals and added 12 assists for 21 points. ' ' '