NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees claimed reliever John Schreiber from the Kansas City Royals on Monday, the last day teams can add players to their 40-man roster for postseason eligibility.
Schreiber, 32, had a 3.65 ERA in 55 relief appearances for the Royals this season, with stark splits. He has been dominant against righties, holding them to a .414 OPS, while lefties have recorded a 1.024 OPS against him.
The Yankees will be on the hook to pay Schreiber the approximately $600,000 remaining on his $3.715 million salary. With two open 40-man roster spots and active rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players Tuesday, the Yankees aren't required to make a corresponding move to accommodate Schreiber.
Schreiber is the fourth veteran right-handed reliever the Yankees have acquired over the past two weeks after not acquiring one at the trade deadline, joining Michael Fulmer, Justin Topa and Eli Morgan. Fulmer and Topa are on the big league roster. Morgan is with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
New York made the moves as fatigue and injuries have surfaced in recent days. Last week, right-hander Fernando Cruz, one of the club's top relievers this season, was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He is considering treatment options, including Tommy John surgery. Even if he opts to avoid the procedure, Cruz could miss the remainder of the season.
On Sunday, the Yankees called up Luis Gil from Triple A to pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in his big league career. Right-hander Clarke Schmidt, another career starter, is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery to return as a reliever and left-hander Ryan Weathers, a starter who was placed on the injured list with a left forearm strain, could also return as a reliever for the playoffs.
