The New York Yankees just snagged right-handed reliever John Schreiber off waivers from the Kansas City Royals, according to MLB.com’s Anne Rogers. This move comes after the Royals reportedly placed Schreiber on waivers last week, and it is a classic late-August play from a team looking to shore up their roster.
A Late-Season Grab with Cash on the Line
For the Royals, this is a clear financial move. They get no compensation for Schreiber, but they will save $600,000 in salary by letting him go. This is exactly what teams out of contention often do: they place impending free agents or expensive players on waivers late in August. The hope is that another team picks them up before the postseason roster deadline, saving some cash in the process. Remember, players must be in an organization by September 1 to be eligible for the postseason, so the Yankees picked him up right under the wire. It is a far cry from the old days, too; “waiver trades” were a thing in August, but those were eliminated back in 2019.
The Numbers Tell a Story: What Do the Yankees See?
Schreiber is a right-handed sidearmer, and he has a 3.65 ERA in 55 appearances this season, with 36 strikeouts across 49.1 innings. The Royals originally acquired him from the Red Sox before the 2024 season in exchange for pitcher David Sandlin. In his three years with Kansas City, he made 188 relief appearances, posting a 3.71 ERA overall.
But let’s dive a little deeper: his strikeout rate right now is 17.7 percent, which is the lowest of his career. Plus, his walk rate is the second-highest he has posted. His FIP sits at 4.87 and his BABIP is .248, which honestly suggests that he hasn’t been as effective as that 3.65 ERA might lead you to believe. The Royals couldn’t even find a trade partner for him at the July deadline, so this waiver claim was their last resort. The 32-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Royals have not yet made a corresponding roster move to fill his spot.
For the Yankees, this is a low-risk play on a veteran arm for a potential postseason push. They are hoping he can find another gear in a new uniform, even if the underlying stats are flashing some serious warning signs. This move is all about that September 1 deadline and adding depth, hoping for a few clutch innings down the stretch from a player who will be looking for a new deal come offseason.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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