Yankees Bolster Rotation with Ryan Yarbrough’s Return
The New York Yankees, looking to strengthen their pitching staff, have reached an agreement to re-sign left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year contract. The news was confirmed this Monday. The agreement, subject to medical examinations, amounts to $2.5 million. Yarbrough returns to the Yankees after signing a Major League contract with the team last March. During the season, he recorded an ERA of 4.36 in 64 innings, alternating between the rotation and the bullpen, with eight starts and 11 relief appearances. In addition, he was out of action for more than two months due to an oblique strain. This signing provides the Yankees with valuable coverage for a rotation that will begin the season without Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt. Cole is expected to return in mid-May at the earliest, as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Rodón will miss at least the first few weeks of the season after undergoing surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies and trim a bone spur last month. Schmidt will not be available to return from Tommy John surgery until the second half of the season, at the earliest.Currently, Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren will start the season in the Yankees’ rotation. The fifth spot could go to Yarbrough. If the Yankees further bolster the rotation this offseason or give another pitcher from their farm system a chance, Yarbough could serve as a long reliever and second lefty alongside Tim Hill.“Hopefully, health will be with us from the start in the rotation, as well as in the first part of February, March, and April, but you can’t count on that,” commented Yankees general manager Brian Cashman last week. “So, of course, we will explore how to protect ourselves so as not to have problems at the beginning, because our rotation is committed from the start. Certainly, I can’t wait for those guys to return, especially Cole and Rodón, but yes, it’s an area we need to focus on.”
Brian Cashman, General Manager of the Yankees
