The New York Yankees' addition of veteran left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough will provide them with a weapon in the bullpen. Injuries have not been kind to the Yankees in spring training, with several bullpen arms being sidelined, including left-handed reliever Tyler Maztek. The Yankees also have sustained injury blows in their rotation and on offense.
Luckily, Yarbrough will come in to help replace the ailing arms in New York after signing a one-year deal following his release from the Toronto Blue Jays.
LHP Ryan Yarbrough makes his Yankees debut here at LoanDepot Park. He signed with them yesterday, after recently opting-out with the Blue Jays . pic.twitter.com/t0ME54QVxm
— Tyler Boronski (@TylerBoronski) March 25, 2025
Last season with the Blue Jays, Yarbrough was impressive, accumulating a 2.01 ERA in 31 1/3 innings. He allowed a scant 29.4% hard-hit rate, which ranked in the 99th percentile in the league. He also recorded an appealing average exit velocity of just 86.0 mph.
His curveball has also been known to leave opponents unsteady at the plate. The variety of pitches that he's able to throw makes him a master at fooling hitters.
His addition didn't attract man headlines, but Yarbrough could be one of New York's most underrated assets during the 2025 season.
Yankees new bullpen addition provides much-needed depth, lefty arm
The Yankees will be tested and challenged against significant pitchers in the AL East such as and Garrett Crochet and Kevin Gausman. But Yarbrough, a multi-inning asset, will benefit both the rotation and the bullpen, as he possesses solid command on the mound and can provide quality innings. This will take some pressure off the rotation if a starter needs to exit a game early. Yarbrough's experience in the AL East will also help when he has to face the team's rivals.
The Yankees can now give veteran lefty Tim Hill some competition for the left-handed specialist title in the pen. But another left-handed arm in the pen is a luxury for the Bronx Bombers. Like Hill, Yarbrough is a left-handed veteran who isn't a flamethrower. But both are excellent at inducing soft contact, Hill generating numerous ground balls and Yarbrough coaxing plenty of harmless pop flies.
Exclusively used as a reliever last season for the first time in his career, Yarbrough was able to handle a workload of 98 2/3 innings pitched across 44 appearances. The Yankees will be delighted not to face him this season, as he's given them a tough time in his career, sporting a 2.04 ERA.
He owns a career 53-40 record with a 4.21 ERA across 768 innings pitched. He's not known for throwing hard, as his fastball only touches 87 mph. But his pitches provide solid movement, and his flexibility in adjusting roles is something the Yankees can experiment with. His successful campaign last season speaks volumes to his consistency.
This season, we could expect to see more from his sinker, as it's become his primary fastball out of the bullpen. His curveball and changeup remain some of the best in the business, the latter pitch giving him a go-to weapon against righty hitters.
Overall, Yarbrough will provide reliability in the 'pen as an experienced pitcher in the AL East. His effectiveness in the long-relief role will be tested this season, but after the Yankees were forced to over-rely on Hill last season, the southpaw's presence will be appreciated in New York.