NEW YORK — Mark Reynolds could see the move coming, but that didn’t make it hurt less.

“I’ve been around a long time, and I kind of saw the writing on the wall, so I wasn’t surprised,” the Rockies’ veteran first baseman said Sunday morning after being told he had been designated for assignment. “Still, it’s kind of a punch in the gut.”

The Rockies, in the midst of a six-game losing streak, and with their starting pitching in a free fall and their bullpen taxed to the limit, made several moves ahead of Sunday’s 8-4 win over the Yankees.

In addition to Reynolds being designated, the club optioned struggling right-handed starter Antonio Senzatela to Triple-A Albuquerque, recalled right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman and selected the contract of left-hander Sam Howard from Triple-A, putting him on the 40-man roster. Both were with the club Sunday.

“We needed some reinforcements,” manager Bud Black said. “The pitching has been taxed over the last few weeks, especially the last couple of days. We felt as though two fresh arms would help us through the next few days.”

The moves, which leaves the Rockies with a three-man bench, does not mean that Hoffman’s days as a starter are over, Black added.

Sunday’s decision ended Reynolds’ second stint with Colorado and could signal the end of his 13-year career. Soon to turn 36, the slugger slashed just .170/.290/.311 and hit four home runs in 162 plate appearances. He was 2-for-38 as a pinch hitter, with one home run and 19 strikeouts.

Reynolds has 298 career home runs and entered the season hoping to reach the 300-home run milestone. Only 148 big-leaguers have hit 300 or more home runs. Had Reynolds achieved the feat, he would have been the only player to hit 300 homers and not make the all-star team.

“It’s tough to produce when you don’t get consistent at-bats, but I knew the role I signed up for,” Reynolds said. “It’s just one of those things where I could never get going. But as someone once said, ‘If you don’t like it, play better.’ I couldn’t play better.”

Black tipped his cap to Reynolds, saying: “We are going to miss Mark. He was a good Rockie for a couple of different years. But you guys all know that change in this game is inevitable, and we had to make a move for the present.”

Reynolds doesn’t know if he wants to keep playing with another big-league team, should the chance arrive.

“I’ll go home and kind of assess things,” he said. “I’m definitely not going to shut doors on anything, but at the same time I’m realistic with what the situation is.”

Is Reynolds disappointed that he has not reached 300 home runs?

“Not really,” he said. “It would have been a cool milestone to get to, and I had plenty of opportunities to do it. I just couldn’t quite get consistent with my swing. It’s not disappointing … 298, 300. It is just a number, but it’s also a milestone.”

Senzatela has been struggling, in large part because he has been falling behind in the count. The right-hander lasted just 1⅓ innings Saturday in Colorado’s 11-5 loss to New York, allowing six runs on seven hits. He also made a throwing error in the five-run second inning that proved costly.