Yankees Strengthen Pitching Roster with Ryan Yarbrough Signing

The Yankees have bolstered their pitching lineup by bringing in a seasoned left-hander. According to a source who spoke with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Yankees have secured a Major League contract with Ryan Yarbrough. However, the team has yet to make an official announcement regarding this addition.

With eight seasons in the Major Leagues under his belt, Yarbrough achieved a career-best 3.19 ERA last year, appearing in 44 relief games split between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays. Initially, he re-signed on a Minor League deal with Toronto earlier in the offseason but opted for free agency last week after activating an opt-out clause in his agreement.

Yarbrough has been a reliable swingman for much of his career, alternating between starting and relieving roles with the Rays, Royals, and Dodgers between 2018 and 2023. Notably, last year marked his first complete season exclusively in relief.

At 33, Yarbrough excels at inducing weak contact. He achieved a remarkable 29.4% hard-hit rate last season, placing second among Major League pitchers who faced at least 300 batters. Over his career, he has maintained a 4.21 ERA across 768 innings with a 28% hard-hit rate.