Royals sign Ryan Yarbrough


Heading into the 2022 offseason, the Royals focused on pitching. And on December 13th, the team made their first major signing of the Picollo era. The boys in blue announced that they signed left-handed submarine pitcher Ryan Yarbrough to a major league contract worth $3 million guaranteed with $1 million in incentives. Yarbrough was let go by the Rays after being projected to earn $4.2 million next year making the decision easy for the Rays. The submarine pitcher appeared in 20 games for Tampa Bay and posted a 4.50 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched. The left-hander started nine games with Tampa Bay last season. Although Yarbrough started in only nine games, he now gives the Royals options for a rotation that had a few questions surrounding it heading into the off-season. Yarbrough has a four pitch mix that includes a changeup, cut fastball, sinker and a curveball, giving him plenty of options as a reliever or a starter. The signing of Yarbrough in my opinion isn't too surprising. The team early this off-season hired former Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as the team's next manager. Quatraro and Yacabonis are very familiar with each other after their time in Tampa Bay. The addition of Yacabonis adds postseason experience to a young pitching staff that has little to no postseason experience. Yarbrough's role with the Royals at this point is unclear, but the team now has an arm that can start games or eat up multiple innings out of the bullpen. Yarbrough will be the first of many free agent signings for JJ Picollo this offseason as they look to strengthen a shaky pitching staff from a year ago. 
















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