The Yankees already have filled their start-of-the-season rotation vacancy.
Early into the free agent signing period, left-hander Ryan Yarbrough is returning to the Yankees to fill the same roles that he was in last season, rotation depth and long reliever.
Yarbrough’s signing was first reported by Robert Murray of Fansided. The left-hander is back on a one-year, $2.5 million contract that includes $250,000 in performance bonuses.
With Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt all starting next season on the injured list rehabbing from surgeries, the Yankees had been only four deep with Max Fried, Will Warren, Luis Gil and Cam Schlittler.
Yarbrough now slots in as the No. 5, which could be just a few weeks because Rodon is expected back by middle-to-late April after undergoing surgery in October to remove a bone spur.
Yarbrough, 33, first joined the Yankees as a free agent signing just prior to the start of the 2025 season on a one-year, $2-million deal. It proved to be a good deal because the soft-tossing lefty was 3-1 with a 4.36 ERA in 19 outings, eight as a starter.
The Texan was on the injured list from June 22 to Sept. 1 with an oblique strain. After returning he struggled in two of his three outings, allowing seven runs over 8 2/3 innings, and was left off the Yankees’ Wild Card Series and Division Series rosters.
The Yankees aren’t ruling out adding a big-money starter before spring training, but it’s unlikely.
The Yankeees’ biggest offseason needs are center field, bullpen, bench and right-handed-hitting catcher.
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