The New York Yankees made a potentially overlooked roster move, acquiring pitcher waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, as announced by the team. He was traded from the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates previously, was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 80 overall prospect ahead of the 2022 season, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
While the Yankees have made several significant additions this offseason, they recognize the value of bolstering their roster depth. At just 25 years old, he has considerable upside, and the team’s decision to claim him off waivers could turn out to be a key move.
The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher debuted in the MLB with the Pirates in 2021, with Pittsburgh hoping he could become a steady presence in their starting rotation. After just one appearance in his rookie season, Contreras got the chance to make a bigger impact in 2022. He went on to pitch in 21 games, including 18 starts, posting a solid 3.79 ERA and striking out 86 batters over 95 innings.
Contreras, however, faced struggles in both 2023 and 2024, leading the Pirates to move on from him during the 2024 season. He then joined the Los Angeles Angels, but after being placed on waivers by the Orioles, he is now set to begin his next chapter with the Yankees.
Despite losing Juan Soto in free agency, the Yankees are entering 2025 with plenty of confidence. They’ve added stars like Max Fried and Cody Bellinger this offseason, and some MLB analysts are even predicting that New York will win the World Series in 2025. With the American League not as competitive as it once was, a return to the Fall Classic after their 2024 World Series appearance seems very achievable. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the 2024 championship, will be the favorites to take the title in 2025.
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