 Through the remainder of Shirley's career with the Yankees, he was primarily used as a long reliever, starting just 22 out of the 140 games in which he appeared from 1984 to 1987.His Yankee career came to an abrupt end in June 1987, when Shirley was involved in an incident of clubhouse roughhousing with Don Mattingly that resulted in Mattingly ending up on the disabled list.He was released shortly thereafter.