In a move that could add depth to their bullpen, the New York Yankees reunited with a pitcher who was once rated as a top prospect, perhaps in hope that he can recover what the team saw in him when he was originally in the Yankees organization. Roansy Contreras was signed by the Yankees in 2016 as an international amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic for a $250,000 signing bonus. Contreras was just 16 years old at the the time. It took several years for the young righty to develop, but by 2022 he was rated as a top prospect. By then, however, the Yankees had traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a deal that brought Jameson Taillon to the Bronx.

Taillon was also once considered a top prospect. He was the Pirates’ first-round draft pick, and No. 2 overall, in 2010. Tthe young Dominican hurler immediately became the Pittsburgh organization’s No. 5 prospect. He was rated the No. 71 prospect in baseball by MLB.com that year, as well.

But Contreras never really got going with the Pirates. In parts of four seasons, he posted a 4.83 ERA and 1.418 WHIP in 182 2/3 innings. Midway through last season, Pittsburgh sold him for cash to the Los Angeles Angels. In Anaheim, Calif., he also largely struggled, with a 4.33 ERA in 52 innings over 37 games, almost all in relief. He notched two saves for the Angels, however.

More MLB:Giants Linked To $60 Million Red Sox Pitcher In Shocking Free Agency Move Now the Yankees will see what they can get out of Contreras that they did not get the first time. He features a fastball that tops out just under 95 mph. He mixes it with a slider that he utilizes on 25 percent of his pitches, according to Statcast figures. He recently added a sweeper to his arsenal, though he threw that pitch just seven percent of the time in 2024.

This winter has been a rough one for Contreras before he was picked up the Yankees. He has no more minor league options, so teams must decide between letting him occupy a slot on their 40-man roster, or releasing him. Already this offseason, four teams have made that decision.

The Angels designated Contreras for assignment once the season ended, but the Texas Rangers immediately claimed him off the waiver wire on Oct. 31. He wasn’t a Ranger for long. Texas DFA’d him on Dec. 13. Six days later, the Cincinnati Reds plucked him from the waiver wire – only to turn around and DFA him again on Jan. 6.

This time, it took only four days for the Baltimore Orioles to claim him off waivers, and another six days to DFA the 25-year-old one more time. The Yankees claimed him a week later, on Thursday.

With Yankees pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to spring training on Feb. 11, it seems as if Contreras may get a chance to compete for a spot in the Yankees bullpen. If not, he faces another DFA and another spin through the waiver wire. If no one claims him this time, he could choose to accept a minor league assignment in the Yankees system in hopes of proving himself all over again.