UPDATE: The New York Yankees have just reached a significant agreement to re-sign left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year contract, sources confirmed to ESPN earlier today. This deal is pending a physical and comes at a critical time for the Yankees as they face injuries within their starting rotation.
Yarbrough’s return is crucial as the Yankees will kick off the season without key starters Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt. Cole, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is not expected back until at least mid-May. Rodon is projected to miss the initial weeks of the season following elbow surgery last month, while Schmidt’s recovery timeline pushes his return to the second half of the season at the earliest.
Yarbrough, who posted a 4.36 ERA over 64 innings last season, will provide much-needed depth. He made eight starts and 11 relief appearances in 2024, although he missed over two months due to a strained oblique. His versatility will be vital, especially as the Yankees aim to navigate the early season without their top pitchers.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expressed the team’s urgency to bolster their pitching options. “We’re exploring how to protect ourselves so we’re not taking on water early because our rotation is compromised out of the gate,” Cashman stated last week.
Currently, the Yankees are looking at a rotation that includes Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren, with Yarbrough potentially filling the fifth spot. If the team opts to pursue further rotation enhancements, Yarbrough could transition to a long relief role, serving as a second lefty alongside Tim Hill.
The urgency of this signing cannot be overstated, given the precarious state of the Yankees’ pitching lineup as the season approaches. Fans are eager to see how Yarbrough will integrate into the team’s strategy and provide essential support during this challenging period.
Stay tuned for further updates on the Yankees’ roster changes and the impact of Yarbrough’s return as the 2025 season unfolds. This is a developing story, and the latest insights will be shared as they become available.
