How Did Yankees Get Albert Abreu?

The New York Yankees made a recent acquisition that may have flown under the radar for some fans: the team reclaimed right-handed pitcher Albert Abreu off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.

This move marks a homecoming for Abreu, who was traded away from the Yankees to the Texas Rangers during spring training in exchange for catcher Jose Trevino.

However, Abreu’s time with the Rangers was short-lived, as he was designated for assignment and eventually claimed by the Royals.

We’ll take a closer look at how the Yankees initially acquired Abreu, what led to his departure, and how the team was able to get him back.

Through Abreu’s journey, we’ll explore the unpredictable nature of player movement in baseball and what this means for the Yankees’ roster going forward.

Albert Abreu’s Initial Acquisition by the Yankees

Albert Abreu was originally signed by the New York Yankees as an international free agent in 2014, at the age of 18. Abreu hails from the Dominican Republic and was highly regarded as a prospect due to his electric stuff on the mound.

After signing with the Yankees, Abreu began his minor league career in the Dominican Summer League before making his way to the United States. He made his debut with the Yankees’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2015, posting a 3.72 ERA over 9 starts.

Abreu continued to rise through the Yankees’ minor league system over the next few years, posting impressive strikeout numbers and earning promotions to higher levels. He reached Double-A in 2018 and made 13 starts there, posting a 3.71 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched.

The Yankees called up Abreu to the majors for the first time in 2019, where he made his debut on September 1 against the Oakland Athletics.

He made a total of three appearances for the Yankees in 2019, allowing 4 earned runs in 3 innings pitched. Since then, Abreu has made sporadic appearances with the Yankees, pitching in just 11 games over the past two seasons.

Abreu’s Departure From the Yankees

During spring training in 2021, the Yankees traded Albert Abreu to the Texas Rangers in exchange for catcher Jose Trevino. The trade was made in part due to the Yankees’ surplus of pitching and their need for catching depth in their organization.

Trevino, a defensive-minded catcher, was seen as a potential backup option behind starting catcher Gary Sanchez.

While Abreu had been highly regarded as a prospect in the Yankees’ system, his sporadic major league appearances and the emergence of other young pitchers in the organization made him expendable.

The Yankees had a surplus of pitching depth, which made Abreu an attractive trade piece for a team like the Rangers who were in need of young, controllable arms.

Abreu’s time with the Rangers was brief, as he made just two appearances for the team before being designated for assignment on April 15, 2021.

The Rangers were in the process of shuffling their roster and needed to make room for other players, so Abreu was designated for assignment, which meant that he was removed from the Rangers’ 40-man roster and made available to other teams on waivers.

Ultimately, the Kansas City Royals claimed Abreu off waivers from the Rangers, but his time in Kansas City was also short-lived.

He was designated for assignment by the Royals on April 8, 2022, and the Yankees were able to reclaim him off waivers a few days later, bringing him back into their organization.

The Yankees’ Re-acquisition of Abreu

When a player is designated for assignment, it means that they have been removed from their team’s 40-man roster and are no longer active on the team.

The player is then placed on waivers, which means that other teams in the league have the opportunity to claim the player and add them to their own 40-man roster. If no team claims the player within a certain period of time, usually 10 days, they become a free agent and can sign with any team.

In the case of Albert Abreu, he was designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals on April 8, 2022. The Yankees were able to claim him off waivers a few days later, which meant that he was added back to their 40-man roster and became an active member of their organization once again.

Abreu’s return to the Yankees provides the team with added bullpen depth, which could be beneficial as the season progresses. Abreu has shown potential as a reliever and has the ability to pitch in high-leverage situations if needed.

While he may not be a prominent member of the Yankees’ bullpen right away, his re-acquisition gives the team more options as they navigate the ups and downs of a long baseball season.

In addition to providing bullpen depth, Abreu’s return also shows that the Yankees still have faith in his potential as a pitcher.

Despite being traded away and designated for assignment by other teams, the Yankees saw enough value in Abreu to bring him back into the fold.

This demonstrates the team’s commitment to developing and nurturing their own players, even if they may struggle at times.

Here’s a Sample Table Outlining Albert Abreu’s Career Transactions:

This table outlines Abreu’s major career transactions, including his signing with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2014, his rise through the minor leagues, his debut with the Yankees in 2019, and his subsequent appearances with the team in 2020.

It also highlights his trade to the Rangers in 2021 and his subsequent designation for assignment and claim by the Royals, as well as his recent re-acquisition by the Yankees in 2023.

FAQs

Will Albert Abreu be a prominent member of the Yankees’ bullpen following his return to the team?

It’s hard to say for sure, as Abreu’s role with the team will likely depend on a variety of factors, including his performance on the mound and the team’s current needs. However, given his previous success as a reliever and the Yankees’ need for bullpen depth, it’s certainly possible that Abreu could see significant playing time as the season progresses.

How does Abreu’s return impact the Yankees’ other pitchers?

Abreu’s return adds another arm to the Yankees’ pitching staff, which could affect the roles of other pitchers on the team. For example, if Abreu performs well in relief, he could potentially take on some high-leverage innings that might have otherwise gone to other relievers. However, the Yankees’ coaching staff will likely manage their pitching staff carefully to ensure that each pitcher is used in a way that maximizes their strengths and minimizes their weaknesses.

Why did the Royals designate Abreu for assignment?

There are a variety of reasons why a team might designate a player for assignment, but in Abreu’s case, it likely had to do with the Royals’ need to free up space on their 40-man roster. With other players coming off the injured list or being added to the team, the Royals needed to make room on their roster, and Abreu was one of the players who was deemed expendable.

What other players have the Yankees traded away or designated for assignment in recent years?

The Yankees have made a number of transactions involving players in recent years, including trades and designations for assignment. Some notable examples include trading for Giancarlo Stanton in 2017, trading away Adam Ottavino in 2021, and designating Clint Frazier for assignment in 2021. Each of these moves was made with different goals and considerations in mind, and the Yankees’ front office is always looking for ways to improve the team’s performance on the field.

Conclusion

The Yankees’ re-acquisition of Albert Abreu showcases the complex and ever-changing nature of baseball transactions.

After being traded away and designated for assignment by other teams, Abreu is now back with the Yankees and provides the team with added bullpen depth.

His return also demonstrates the team’s commitment to their own players and their willingness to give them another chance.

As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Abreu performs and how he contributes to the Yankees’ success.