Former saves leader Kirby Yates is back on the free agent market, with last offseason’s one-year deal with the Blue Jays having wrapped up. That $5.5MM gamble didn’t pan out for Toronto, as Yates suffered a flexor strain that required a March Tommy John surgery. The 34-year-old is expected back at some point midseason in 2022, MLBTR’s Steve Adams confirms, a timeline that seems to align with the typical approximate fourteen-month recovery from TJS.
Ken Rosenthal of Athletic reported yesterday (on Twitter) that Yates is likely to land a two-year contract this offseason. It’s become fairly common to see teams sign pitchers rehabbing from Tommy John procedures to two-year deals, writing off most or all of the first season with an eye towards buying low on a talented arm in year two. Last offseason, the Dodgers and Mariners agreed to deals of this ilk with Tommy Kahnle and Ken Giles, respectively.
In most instances, such deals involve salaries a bit above the league minimum for the first year and a few million dollars above that the following season. There’s not yet any indication about what kind of offers Yates is looking at specifically, although the possibility for a late-season return in 2022 could give him a bit of a boost relative to other similar situations. Assuming his recovery continues as planned, Yates could market two potential stretch runs and postseasons. Kahnle and Giles, on the other hand, were expected to be out for all of 2021 at the time they signed their respective deals.
Yates has barely pitched over the past two seasons on account of elbow issues, so it’s easy to forget how dominant he was at his peak. A late bloomer who bounced around the league on waivers through the first few years of his MLB career, he took his game to a new level upon landing with the Padres in 2017. Between then and the end of 2019, the right-hander pitched to a 2.31 ERA across 179 1/3 innings of relief, striking out a brilliant 38.7% of batters faced while walking just 6.8%. In addition to his aforementioned 2019 saves crown, he was selected to the All-Star game and finished seventh in National League Cy Young award voting that season.
Even as he enters his age-35 season, Yates should still have a decent number of suitors hoping he can recapture some of that late-game dominance. Rosenthal lists the D-Backs as one team with interest, and others likely have entered or will enter the fray over the coming weeks. The Twins and Dodgers were among the clubs known to have interest in Yates during his trip through free agency last winter.
This would be a great pick-up for the cubs and they have a track record of these types of moves.
Maybe, but if he isn’t returning to mid-late season they won’t be able to trade him
Insert Sox fans comments about dumpster diving
The Cubs have bigger needs to fill besides closer. They’re at least two years away from worrying about the back-end of the bullpen.
“It’s become fairly common to see teams sign pitchers rehabbing from Tommy John procedures to two-year deals…”
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Unless you’re the Angels and want to assume all the risk without the upside of year 2. Yes, his rehab is done, but he’s yet to show if he can handle a full-season workload. He likely can’t.
Thor’s rehab is done and he will be two years post TJS entering the 2022 season. Ohtani’s rehab was complete and he was two years post TJS entering the 2021 season. Thor pitched two innings prior to the upcoming 2022 season. Ohtani pitched two innings prior to the recently completed 2021 season.
I’m guessing the Angels see some parallels between Thor and Ohtani that you may have overlooked and are betting on 130-150 quality innings from Thor in 2022.
He’s likely on a 175-ish limit like Stras and Harvey were. Watching Thor pitch every start since he came up, if he’s halfway right, you guys are in for a one year treat.
Or the Astros. And Verlander is less far removed from TJ and they gave him a player option which will be picked up if and only if he isn’t worth it.
Not to mention Verlander is 8 years older than Thor. Little harder to recover at 38 than 30.
Mets can sign him for cheap and have a weapon in their pen for the dog days of summer.
No they would overpay for him to collapse
He actually makes sense for Boston. Matt Barnes can have his usual dominant first half of the season and then Yates can bail him out come July or August. If he’ll take a 2 year, $6M deal he might very well be with the risk.
I thought the same thing as I was reading the article. Yates makes a lot of sense for the BoSox.
Just realizing he’s the brother of ex Met/Brave Tyler Yates
Other teams entering the fray over the coming weeks…not really since everything is coming to a halt in less than a week.
Would especially make sense for a team that maybe views themselves as still a year away from contention.
Any relation to Wayne Kirby?
Wayne gave birth to Yates.
Is funny how Hand and Yates went from elite RL to literally scrap yard. I really hope they can both figure things out and regain their values. 2 of my favourites RL big time !