Tommy Layne left Fenway Park with the Red Sox on July 27. He returned Tuesday as a member of the Yankees.
“It’s very bizarre. The way the whole thing played out was very bizarre in my opinion,’’ the lefthander said. “I left on a road trip with one team then I re-signed with another team when they happened to be coming home to play the team I just signed with.’’
Layne was designated for assignment Aug. 2 then released Saturday. The Yankees signed him Tuesday and immediately put him on the roster.
“It was a stressful six or seven days at home, but we’re through it and we’re here now,’’ Layne said.
Layne entered the game in the fifth inning with a runner on second base and allowed an RBI single by David Ortiz. It was the first time he had pitched since July 30.
Layne then retired the next four batters he faced.
Layne, 31, appeared in 34 games for the Sox this season. He had a 3.77 earned run average but was let go after the Red Sox obtained lefthander Fernando Abad at the trade deadline.
Layne appeared in 128 games for the Sox the last three seasons.
“I did not see it coming. To me, yes, it was sudden, but I also understand it’s the trade deadline. Anything can happen,’’ Layne said.
“When they [traded for] a lefthanded reliever over there, somebody’s got to go. I’ve kind of been that guy my whole career where it seems like when there needs to be a spot opened up, I’m kind of that guy. I’m hoping that I eventually get to a certain point in my career where I stop being that guy.’’
Red Sox manager John Farrell said it was a difficult decision to release Layne.
“It was for multiple reasons,’’ Farrell said. “The person he is and the pitcher that he is. There’s a talented guy in there. We felt there was an opportunity to maybe gain some consistency with Fernando.’’
Layne has allowed 10 hits and four walks in his last seven innings with the Sox. Now he gets another chance with the rebuilding Yankees.
“I think any player, whether they admit it or not, when they hear the Yankees are interested, there’s a little spark, a little smile that hits your face, thinking, ‘Man, that’s the Yankees.’ So very humbling experience,’’ he said. “Very proud to be able to call myself a Yankee now.’’
Tebow time?
The news that Tim Tebow wants to try a baseball career was interesting news to Gulf Coast League Red Sox manager Tom Kotchman, who doubles as a scout in Florida.
Kotchman has long believed Tebow has a future in baseball and wanted the Angels to draft him when he worked for that organization.
“He’s got size, he’s lefthanded, and he has makeup. Everyone knows what kind of competitor he is,’’ Kotchman told reporter Chelsa Messinger of WINK television in Fort Myers on Tuesday.
Tebow has been working out with the idea of being a corner outfielder. But Kotchman sees him as a pitcher.
“It’s a lot harder to hit than it is to pitch. The odds are in your favor as a pitcher. That’s what I would be interested in seeing him do,’’ Kotchman said. “I would not bet against Tim Tebow. Ever.’’
Teixeira reflects
Mark Teixeira has been playing against the Red Sox for 14 years and considered signing with them as a free agent in 2008 before selecting the Yankees.
The first baseman, who announced last week he would retire at the end of the season, will miss the games at Fenway Park.
“Going to Boston, this is one of those special ballparks in Major League Baseball,’’ he said.
Teixeira has battled injuries for several years and decided at age 36 it was time to step away.
“As the neck injury and the knee injury popped up, just knowing that I haven’t been healthy for a full season in a long time just made me realize that it was time to step away and my body just can’t take it any more,’’ he said.
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of success and no second thoughts at all. I’m really excited about the decision.’’
Bogaerts rests
Xander Bogaerts was out of the lineup following the day off. Farrell said he wanted to give him two days off in a row. He was 12 of 58 (.207) in the previous 14 games . . . Hanley Ramirez (left wrist) was back in the lineup after being limited to a pinch-hit appearance Sunday . . . Chris Young is set to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment in the next day or two. He has been out since June 24 with a strained right hamstring . . . Koji Uehara has played catch twice since Sunday, his first such activity since strained a pectoral muscle on July 19. He is scheduled for an ultrasound to check the status of his injury . . . The Red Sox have yet to announce when Blake Swihart will have season-ending surgery on his left ankle. But Farrell again said all indications were that surgery is required.
More Yankees moves
The Yankees claimed righthander Blake Parker off waivers from Seattle and will add him to the roster in the coming days. Lefthander Richard Bleier was optioned to Triple A Scranton to make room for Layne.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.
