The Pittsburgh Pirates have re-signed reliever Tyler Yates, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Â This is a minor league contract, and presumably includes an invite to Spring Training, similar to when the Pirates re-signed Yates last year.
They first acquired the right handed reliever in 2008, in a trade with the Atlanta Braves prior to the season. Â Yates went down with an elbow injury in May 2009, and underwent Tommy John surgery in July of that year. Â The Pirates let him go, but re-signed him to a minor league deal last off-season, paying him $300,000 in the minors, and $975,000 in the majors. Â He was expected back by mid-season, but ended up missing the entire year.
I’d expect the terms of this year’s deal to be the same. Â He will likely get a shot at the bullpen out of Spring Training, assuming he’s healthy, and will serve as depth out of AAA. Â Yates is a hard thrower, but his big problem has been a lack of control, with a career 4.9 BB/9 ratio.
