The New York Yankees have bolstered their bullpen by signing left-hander Chasen Shreve to a minor league deal on Saturday, marking a return for the 34-year-old reliever who pitched for the Yankees from 2015 to 2018.
Shreve joins the Yankees after opting out of his minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, following an impressive stint at Triple-A Round Rock. In 20 appearances, Shreve recorded a 0.761 WHIP over 22 1/3 innings. His 2023 season was divided between the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds, where he appeared in 50 games with a 1.343 WHIP.
Originally acquired by the Yankees in 2015 along with David Carpenter in a trade with the Atlanta Braves for Manny Banuelos, Shreve posted a 3.92 ERA and a 4.99 FIP in 180 relief outings during his initial stint in New York. In 2018, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals with Giovanny Gallegos for Luke Voit.
This signing is part of a series of bullpen moves by the Yankees amid injuries and increased workloads. Just a day before signing Shreve, the team designated left-hander Victor Gonzalez for assignment. This followed the addition of left-handed sidearmer Tim Hill and the designation of another lefty, Clayton Andrews, for assignment.
Why do the Yankees bring back ex-arm Chasen Shreve?
Set to turn 34 next month, Shreve brings nearly a decade of MLB experience to the Yankees’ bullpen, potentially adding much-needed stability and depth to the beleaguered unit.
Chasen Shreve has had stints with several Major League teams since his initial tenure with the Yankees, including the Mets, Pirates, Tigers, Reds, and Cardinals. Over 169 innings, he has posted a league-average 4.26 ERA. Last season with Detroit and Cincinnati, Shreve recorded a 4.63 ERA and 4.28 FIP across 50 appearances, with a 23.3% strikeout rate and a 7.3% walk rate.
Shreve’s recent performance in the minors has been noteworthy. Pitching for the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A team, he logged a 1.61 ERA over 22 1/3 innings in 20 appearances, striking out 29.6% of batters faced. If he can bring this level of performance to the majors, he could be a significant asset to the Yankees’ bullpen, which has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
Although Shreve is expected to begin at Triple-A, his veteran presence could quickly earn him a spot in the majors, particularly with the Yankees’ recent moves to designate left-handers Clayton Andrews and Victor Gonzalez for assignment. His addition provides much-needed depth and potential stability to a bullpen looking for reliable options.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
I think we won’t know until he’s tested in a game situation. 🤷♂️ That just makes sense. I’m not expecting any performance that comes close to his former level of pitching during his earlier stint with the Yankees.