The New York Yankees claimed right-handed reliever John Schreiber off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on Monday, adding bullpen depth hours before they opened a series against the Los Angeles Angels.
The move was first reported by the New York Post’s Joel Sherman and confirmed by The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty. Kuty wrote, “Yankees claim John Schreiber, source says. @Joelsherman1 first w/ the news. They’ll owe him the rest of his $3.715M for the season.”
Schreiber, 32, is an eight-year major league veteran who debuted with Detroit in 2019. He later pitched for Boston before joining Kansas City in 2024.
This season he appeared in 55 games for the Royals, posting a 3.65 ERA over 49 1/3 innings with 36 strikeouts. He finished 1-3 with one save and 14 holds.
Right-handed hitters have had particular trouble against him. Sherman noted they were batting just .143 off Schreiber this year, while left-handers hit .326.
The Yankees have spent recent weeks patching a bullpen thinned by injuries. Setup man Fernando Cruz landed on the injured list last week with a partial tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament. Tommy John surgery remains a possibility.
New York did not add a reliever at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The club has since relied on a mix of veterans and recent call-ups to cover late innings.
Closer David Bednar has been a stabilizer. Other right-handers such as Paul Blackburn and Michael Fulmer have taken on more work as the calendar turns toward September.
Schreiber gives manager Aaron Boone another experienced option who has thrown at least 45 innings in each of the past five seasons. His ERA has not climbed above 3.86 in that span.
Kansas City placed him on waivers over the weekend. The Royals have played well lately but remain well out of contention in the American League Central.
Because the claim came before Sept. 1, Schreiber would be eligible for the postseason if New York qualifies. He is in the final year of team control and is scheduled to become a free agent this winter.
The Yankees entered Monday at 78-59, sitting second in the AL East. They were preparing to face the Angels at Angel Stadium after wrapping a series in Chicago.
Boone and general manager Brian Cashman have repeatedly said they will keep looking for ways to fortify the roster down the stretch. Waiver claims have been one of those paths this season.
Schreiber’s sinker-slider mix and ground-ball tendencies could help in high-leverage spots against right-handed lineups. Whether he immediately steps into a setup role or works in middle relief remains to be seen.
For now, the Yankees simply added a proven arm at little extra cost beyond the remainder of his 2026 salary. In a tight pennant race, that kind of depth can matter.
