Ryan Yarbrough’s Surprising 1-Year Deal with Yankees: What It Means for the Team’s Future

So here we are, folks — Ryan Yarbrough, that crafty lefty who delivers his pitches sidearm, is sticking with the Yankees for another season. I caught wind from someone close to the deal (who preferred to stay under the radar, naturally) that the Yankees have agreed to a one-year contract with him, pending his physical. This is notably the Bombers’ first move of the offseason, and honestly, it’s a smart one. Yarbrough, turning 34 at the end of the year, inked a $2 million pact back in March after he was let go from a minor league contract with Toronto, and he added $150K more through innings-based performance bonuses. His 2024 season stats? A solid 3-1 record, a 4.36 ERA over eight starts and 11 relief outings, 55 strikeouts against 19 walks in 64 innings— not bad at all, given he missed two and a half months with a strained right oblique and was sidelined during the postseason. With eight years in the majors under his belt, Yarbrough’s earned his stripes across multiple teams — from Tampa Bay to Kansas City, the Dodgers, Toronto, and now the Yankees. Stay tuned, because this seasoned southpaw is far from finished. LEARN MORE

NEW YORK — Side-arming left-hander Ryan Yarbrough agreed to a one-year contract to stay with the New York Yankees, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, the first offseason move by the Yankees, was subject to a successful physical examination.

Yarbourgh, who turns 34 on Dec. 31, agreed in March to a one-year, $2 million contract, one day after he was released from a minor league deal with Toronto, and he earned $150,000 in performance bonuses based on innings.

He went 3-1 with a 4.36 ERA in eight starts and 11 relief appearances, striking out 55 and walking 19 in 64 innings. Yarbrough did not pitch for the Yankees between June 18 and Sept. 5 because of a strained right oblique. He was left off the roster for postseason series against Boston and Toronto.

An eight-year major league veteran, Yarbrough is 56-41 with a 4.22 ERA in 76 starts and 139 relief appearances for Tampa Bay (2018-22), Kansas City (2023), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2023-24), Toronto (2024) and the Yankees.