The New York Yankees have signed left-handed pitcher Chasen Shreve to a minor league contract, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. Shreve had been playing for the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A team in Round Rock under a minor league deal but chose to opt out and re-enter free agency after his last appearance on June 14.
Shreve, who turns 34 next month, has played ten seasons in Major League Baseball, debuting with the Atlanta Braves in 2014. He was traded to the Yankees alongside David Carpenter after his rookie season, and during his time in New York from 2015 to 2018, he recorded a 3.92 ERA and a 4.99 FIP across 180 relief appearances. In the middle of the 2019 season, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals along with Giovanny Gallegos in exchange for Luke Voit.
Since leaving the Yankees, Shreve has pitched for several teams including the Mets, Pirates, Tigers, Reds, and Cardinals. Over 169 innings at the major league level, he has posted a 4.26 ERA, which aligns closely with the league average by ERA+. Last season with the Tigers and Reds, he had a 4.63 ERA and a 4.28 FIP in 50 appearances, with a solid strikeout rate of 23.3% and a walk rate of 7.3%.
During his recent stint with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, Shreve was highly effective, boasting a 1.61 ERA across 22 1/3 innings in 20 appearances while striking out 29.6% of batters faced. His performance there suggests he could be a valuable addition to the Yankees’ bullpen, especially given recent roster challenges, including injuries and underperformance among other relievers.
Initially, Shreve is likely headed to Triple-A with the Yankees, but there is a strong possibility he could join the big league club soon, particularly following recent moves that saw the Yankees designate Clayton Andrews and Victor Gonzalez for assignment earlier in the week.
