In a quiet but strategic move, the New York Yankees have added a veteran arm to their bullpen, agreeing to a major league contract with free agent left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. The deal is for a year and worth $2 million salary plus $500,000 in incentives.
The 33-year-old pitcher opted out of his minor league deal with the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and was granted his release, paving the way for a new opportunity in the Bronx.
The deal brings Yarbrough back to the AL East, a division he knows well after years with the Tampa Bay Rays and a short stint with Toronto.
A well-traveled lefty returns to familiar territory
Yarbrough brings to the Yankees an extensive resume shaped by perseverance and adaptability. After debuting with the Rays in 2018, he quickly carved out a niche as a reliable swingman — part reliever, part starter — with a knack for inducing soft contact. Known more for precision than power, Yarbrough leans heavily on command, movement, and deception rather than velocity.
In 2024, after being traded from the Dodgers to the Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, Yarbrough put together one of the most effective stretches of his career. He posted a stellar 2.01 ERA and a 3.49 FIP in 31⅓ innings out of the Toronto bullpen, striking out 26 and walking just seven. Despite those numbers, he was not added to the Blue Jays’ 26-man roster this spring, prompting him to invoke his XX(B) opt-out clause — a right reserved for players with over six years of MLB service — to seek opportunities elsewhere.
That opportunity now arrives in the Bronx.
Yarbrough a low-velocity specialist with unconventional tools
Yarbrough is not your typical modern pitcher. His fastball sits at a modest 86.5 mph — among the slowest in the majors — but he compensates with elite command and an arsenal designed to disrupt hitters’ timing. He complements his sinker with a deceptive changeup and sweeping breaking ball, relying on off-speed pitches and location to get outs.
His strikeout rate in 2024 was only 16%, but his walk rate (6%) and ability to induce ground balls make him a valuable asset in matchups, particularly against left-handed hitters. Alongside fellow Yankees lefty Tim Hill, Yarbrough gives New York another soft-contact specialist who can fill multiple roles in Aaron Boone’s bullpen.
A career of resilience and big-moment Bronx experience
Originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Yarbrough made an immediate impression in the minors. In his 2014 debut season, he posted a 1.27 ERA with 58 strikeouts in just over 42 innings across three minor league levels. By 2016, he had emerged as a rising star with the Jackson Generals, going 12–4 with a 2.95 ERA.
In 2017, Yarbrough was traded to Tampa Bay as part of the package for Drew Smyly. Over the next five seasons with the Rays, he played a key role both as a bulk reliever and occasional starter. His versatility was especially valuable during Tampa Bay’s 2020 postseason run, where he pitched in the ALDS and ALCS, and started a game in the World Series against the Dodgers.
Perhaps one of the highlights of his Rays tenure came on June 3, 2021, when he threw a complete game victory against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium — the Rays’ first complete game in five years.
Setbacks and comebacks
In December 2022, Yarbrough signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he endured a scary moment in May 2023. A 106-mph line drive struck him in the face, resulting in multiple non-displaced fractures around his right eye. After more than two months on the injured list, he returned in July and finished the season with a 4.24 ERA across 51 innings.
He was traded to the Dodgers at the 2023 deadline, where he served in a hybrid role and logged a 4–2 record with a 3.74 ERA over 32 appearances. Despite solid numbers, the Dodgers designated him for assignment in July 2024, prompting a trade to Toronto.
The Blue Jays benefited immediately from his acquisition. In 12 relief appearances, Yarbrough delivered a 1-0 record with a 2.01 ERA, striking out 26 and walking just seven. He re-signed with Toronto on a minor league deal in February 2025, but when the team declined to promote him, he opted out — leading to his latest stop in New York.
What Yarbrough brings to the Yankees
For the Yankees, who continue to search for rotational depth and bullpen versatility amid injuries and uncertainty, Yarbrough offers a cost-effective solution. With Gerrit Cole sidelined and innings likely to be spread thin among a young and developing rotation, Yarbrough could serve as a multi-inning reliever, occasional starter, or even a lefty specialist in high-leverage spots.
His command-heavy, contact-oriented approach contrasts with the high-velocity arms in New York’s bullpen, giving Boone more tactical options — especially against patient, left-handed-heavy lineups.
While this move may not grab headlines like a big-name trade, the Yankees’ signing of Ryan Yarbrough is a smart depth play. It’s a reunion of sorts — not with the franchise, but with the AL East, where Yarbrough has consistently found success. If he can replicate his 2024 form, the Yankees might have quietly added a critical piece to their pitching puzzle.
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