Roansy Contreras is back with the Yankees.
The former homegrown top prospect was claimed by his old team off waivers on Thursday.
Contreras, 25, was designated for assignment by the Orioles earlier this month. He’s been bouncing around with a few different teams this offseason — he was also cut by the Rangers and Reds — unable to stick in one spot.
Four years ago on Friday, Contreras was included in the package of prospects used by the Yankees to acquire starter Jameson Taillon from the Pirates. At the time, the right-hander was one of the top-ranked pitchers in the Yankees’ farm system. The Yankees initially signed Contreras out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, so up until that trade to Pittsburgh, he hadn’t played for any other organization.
While Contreras hit the ground running with the Pirates, raising his stock as he climbed up to Triple-A for the first time, he hasn’t been able to recognize his potential in the big leagues since then.
Contreras had a 3.79 ERA with Pittsburgh in 2022, working almost exclusively as a starter in a limited sample. Over the following two seasons, he posted a 5.47 ERA in the big leagues across 68 appearances. That includes 37 outings with the Angels this past summer — Los Angeles picked Contreras up after the Pirates designated him for assignment last May.
The Yankees have a reputation for bringing the best out of all kinds of pitchers, so it’s possible they can help Contreras blossom this spring. Maybe he’ll be the next reclamation project who earns big-league playing time and excels in pinstripes. He doesn’t have any minor-league options, though. That means Contreras needs to either make the Opening Day roster — which feels like a long shot as of now — or he’ll be on the move again, either designated for assignment or traded away.
Contreras isn’t the only pitcher the Yankees claimed off waivers on Thursday. Former Braves starter Allan Winans was also scooped up off the wire. With Contreras and Winans, the Yankees’ 40-man roster now stands at 39 as of Thursday evening.
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Max Goodman may be reached at [email protected].
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