TAMPA, Fla — The New York Yankees have secured the services of left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough with a $2 million, one-year deal announced on Monday. This move comes shortly after Yarbrough was released from his minor league agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays. Yarbrough, distinguished by his slight sidearm delivery, also stands to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses based on innings pitched.
Reflecting on his decision, Yarbrough expressed enthusiasm about joining the Yankees. He remarked, “There were other teams, but this was by far the team I was most interested in. I’ve heard a lot from the pitching side (about) what they’ve been able to do with guys. That was exciting and intriguing to me.”
Over his seven-year career, Yarbrough has compiled a record of 53-40 with a 4.21 ERA, spanning 68 starts and 128 relief appearances. His journey in Major League Baseball includes stints with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2018 to 2022, the Kansas City Royals in 2023, and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2023 to 2024, following a trade that exchanged him for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Last season, Yarbrough posted a solid 5-2 record accompanied by a 3.19 ERA across 44 relief outings.
Yarbrough’s pitching repertoire is diverse, consisting of a sinker, which he utilized for 28.7% of his pitches last season, a curveball at 27.5%, a four-seam fastball averaging 86.7 mph at 18.4%, a changeup at 15.5%, and a cutter at 9.9%.
His recent agreement with Toronto, effective from February 21, saw him achieve a 4.05 ERA over 6 2/3 innings in four spring training games. During these appearances, Yarbrough displayed promising control, striking out eight batters while only allowing one walk.
Meanwhile, the Yankees announced that their AL Rookie of the Year, right-hander Luis Gil, has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to a strained right lat muscle.