Is Ryan Yarbrough the Yankees’ unexpected rotation fix?
As the New York Yankees confront a campaign plagued by pitching injuries and fifth-starter volatility, an unexpected solution appears to be materializing: Ryan Yarbrough.
The 32-year-old southpaw, historically utilized in swing roles and extended relief situations, has assembled an understated yet productive performance from the bullpen. With the Yankees advancing through 2025 minus Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, while Clarke Schmidt remains inconsistent, Yarbrough could be positioning himself for permanent rotation inclusion.
A rotation in disarray
The Yankees reached May sporting a 21-16 mark — acceptable considering the chaos engulfing their pitching personnel. Gerrit Cole, their ace and defending AL Cy Young recipient, disappeared before Opening Day. Following persistent 2024 elbow inflammation management, he ultimately required Tommy John surgery on March 11, 2025. His season immediately concluded.
This singular catastrophe proved insufficient.
Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year sensation, joined the 60-day injured list battling right lat complications, with mid-June representing the earliest return projections. Simultaneously, Clarke Schmidt, hampered by shoulder difficulties, delayed his seasonal debut until April 16. Despite returning, his 4.79 ERA hasn’t delivered necessary stability.
Compound these issues with rookie Will Warren’s growing struggles and vulnerabilities become exposed. Across seven starts, Warren managed just three five-inning performances while posting a concerning 5.65 ERA and 1.53 WHIP figures. His inability to extend deeper creates bullpen strain.
FanGraphs analytics reveal Yankees pitching ranks 12th in team ERA, yet sits 22nd concerning walks per nine and 16th in homers allowed per nine — unmistakable indicators of rotational instability.
Enter Ryan Yarbrough
Yarbrough never possessed flashiness. However, the experienced left-hander consistently demonstrates one crucial characteristic: durability. Employed variably as a starter, bulk reliever, and opener dating to Tampa Bay tenure, Yarbrough quietly cultivated a reputation for dependable innings consumption, precisely the Yankees’ deficiency.
Throughout 2025, he’s maintained this pattern. Among nine appearances, five exceeded two innings, including several occasions rescuing Warren following abbreviated outings.
April 28 versus Baltimore witnessed Warren’s departure after 3.1 frames. Yarbrough entered, contributing 3.2 innings, allowing two runs while stabilizing proceedings. Days later, May 3 featured Yarbrough opening against his former employer, Tampa Bay, during a bullpen-dominated contest. Though the Yankees fell 3-2, Yarbrough surrendered merely one earned run alongside two walks and three strikeouts.
These performances lack sensationalism but reflect something essential: stability, an attribute scarce within the Yankees’ rotation.
Is a role switch looming?
While the Yankees continuously assess Warren’s progression and organizational fit, Yarbrough’s reliability might necessitate strategic adjustments. Warren’s efficiency and command challenges indicate potential benefits from reduced responsibilities or Triple-A refinement. Conversely, Yarbrough — possessing 66 career starts — could provide consistent innings while awaiting reinforcements like Gil.
Yarbrough’s starting experience encompasses navigating lineups multiple times while minimizing hard contact. Despite modest velocity, he maintains hitter imbalance through soft-contact-generating repertoire — optimal for damage limitation and bullpen preservation.
Given the Yankees’ middling pitching metrics rankings alongside starter length deficiencies, manager Aaron Boone might soon prioritize veteran stability over rookie development.
Long-term implications
Yankees entered 2025 harboring championship ambitions, yet rotation injuries forced survival-mode operations. Pending Cole or Gil’s return, the organization requires methods for purchasing time and innings.
Excessive bullpen reliance carries consequences. Yankees already display fatigue symptoms, with relievers executing multi-inning appearances consecutively. Stretching Yarbrough — potentially converting him toward full-time starting — could reduce pressure while balancing workloads.
Additionally, this creates reliable deadline bridging. Should Gil return punctually and Cole commence fall rehabilitation, the Yankees might require rotation patching in merely another month or two. If Yarbrough proves effective, he could function as a permanent swingman or fifth starter upon roster health restoration.
Yarbrough by the numbers
Though ERA remains pedestrian, Yarbrough delivers value through adaptability and efficiency. During 2025, he’s:
- Recorded multiple 3+ inning performances
- Sustained below-average walk rates
- Generated soft contact maintaining manageable WHIP
Crucially, he’s demonstrated capacity for immediate deployment — whether cleaning abbreviated starts or initiating bullpen games unexpectedly. This versatility defined his Rays and Royals tenures, potentially earning permanent New York positioning.
Boone’s next move?
With May progressing and divisional competitors, including Baltimore and Toronto, maintaining pressure, the Yankees confront mounting internal solution demands. Limited minor-league alternatives combined with dormant trade markets potentially reduce choices between experience versus potential.
Ryan Yarbrough might not embody the Yankees’ future, yet could represent precisely their present requirements.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
