The Yankees have signed left-hander Tyler Lyons to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, per Conor Foley of the Scranton Times-Tribune (Twitter link). He’s the second veteran reliever the club has added on a minor league deal this week and the third veteran piece of bullpen depth the club has picked up overall. New York inked righty David Hernandez to a minor league contract two days ago and also claimed right-hander Ryan Dull off waivers from the Giants this week.
Lyons, 30, was released by the Pirates earlier this week but has posted strong numbers in Triple-A in 2019: a 3.35 ERA (3.46 FIP) with 10.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.79 HR/9 and a 39.8 percent ground-ball rate in 45 2/3 innings. He made three big league appearances with Pittsburgh as well but was tagged for five runs in four innings during that time.
Not long ago, Lyons was a reliable bullpen option for the Cardinals. The lefty logged 162 innings with a 3.33 ERA, 9.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 from 2015-17 out of the St. Louis bullpen. His best season, in 2017, saw Lyons put together a 2.83 ERA and a near-identical 2.86 FIP to go along with a career-best 30.9 percent strikeout rate (11.33 K/9).
With that being his third straight quality season in the Majors, Lyons looked to have established himself as a go-to reliever for the Cardinals. However, his 2018 campaign was shortened by back and elbow issues, and the Cards cut him loose in what looked at the time to be a potentially hasty DFA that summer after a total of just 16 innings. Lyons went unclaimed on waivers, though, and took a minor league pact with Pittsburgh this offseason. He’ll now hope to pitch his way back to the big leagues in the Bronx. He’d technically be arbitration-eligible for another two seasons if he impresses the Yankees’ front office, though he’d need a quick call to the big leagues and a very strong showing to convince the club to tender him a contract this winter.
Jeffrey M
Ninja Cash!
Bocephus
Astros might as well pack it in.
todd76
Good luck with that. Astros beat the Yankees in a postseason series easily. Heard of Verlander/Cole/Greinke?
Big Poison
I think your sarcasm detector is broken
Twinsfan333
Agreed, but I think the bar for sarcasm has been lowered so much in recent years. I remember a time when sarcasm was clever or was actually humorous. So it is very easy to misenterpt when it contains neither. I put it more on the lame attempt
Bocephus
Rich coming from someone with the username Twinsfan333
Cody Jeter
Be careful. You might cut people with that edge.
sheff86
Valid point. Verlander is a winner. Cole? Maybe. He’s good.
But you better be leery of Greinke. And better hope he doesn’t pitch in NY. Either way,it will be in the best of 7 if they meet. I don’t see MIN/CLE (Central) finishing 1 or 2.
Old User Name
todd Heard of Smoltz, Maddux and Glavin? There’s no guarantees in baseball.
bradthebluefish
Nice pickup
Plot Thickens
By whom? The New York City Dump?
EasternLeagueVeteran
Lightning in a bottle, left handed version. (hernandez is lightning in a bottle, right-handed version. )
allweatherfan
Yanks have terrible pitching. They’ll be lucky to finish at .500.
uvmfiji
Damn you 162 game season!
Robertowannabe
162 Season…..I damn thee!!!
rocky7
Guess you failed Math in High School!
TheTrotsky
They would have to lose almost every single game. But it’s cool to just say things.
Robertowannabe
Dare to dream??
whyhayzee
I like how there’s an article about how they always wanted urshela along with 316 more articles about the latest pitcher signed to a minor league contract.
fitsiqis65
There is no downside to this and really its only news if he plays.
However, How great is it that NOW Cashman is trying to address the pitching staff. I mean who needed the off-season or pre-trade deadline time when you can pick up other teams trash and pray for a miracle in August. Yep- He’s a genius
#giveitaJank
No doubt he’s what’s been missing…WS winner again1
Foreveryankees
Are we here to talk baseball or what?? All immature clowns are not wanted here!!
#giveitaJank
No doubt he’s what’s been missing…WS winner again1
uncle mike
Tyler Lyons was a very good reliever for the Cardinals. Maybe too good, because Mike Mathaney threw him every day until his left arm hung down a foot lower from his right arm. Just one of many big named relievers of whom Mike Mathaney ruined their careers!!!