Left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract to return to the New York Yankees, pending a physical. The deal addresses depth needs in the Yankees' rotation, which faces early challenges due to injuries. Yarbrough, who turns 34 on December 31, previously pitched for the team after opting out of a minor league deal with the Blue Jays.
The New York Yankees are bolstering their pitching staff amid anticipated early-season hurdles. Several key starters, including Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt, are set to begin the 2026 season on the injured list, putting pressure on the rotation led by Max Fried.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman emphasized the need for depth during the General Managers Meetings. "We have pitching depth, but it’s going to be challenged early," Cashman said. "We have a stressor on the front end of the rotation, and hopefully that’s without any further injuries. Hopefully the off-days will play a nice role early on when we need a fifth starter. Hopefully health is blessed early in the rotation as well, in the early portion of February, March and April, but you can’t count on that. Of course, we’ll be exploring how to protect ourselves so we’re not taking on water early."
Yarbrough's agreement, confirmed to MLB.com on Monday, marks a reunion with the Yankees. Signed late in March 2025 after opting out of his minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, he served as a valuable swingman that season. In 19 games, including eight starts, Yarbrough recorded a 3-1 mark with a 4.36 ERA. As a starter, his ERA was 3.83, though he missed two months due to a right oblique strain sustained in mid-July. He limited left-handed batters to a .198 average and .360 slugging percentage.
Across eight major league seasons since his 2018 debut, Yarbrough has a 4.22 ERA in 215 appearances, including 76 starts. A fourth-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2014 draft, he has also pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Blue Jays.