Yankees in agreement with intriguing reliever

The Yankees and right-hander Lou Trivino are in agreement on a deal, per Andy Martino of SNY. The exact nature of the deal, which is pending a physical, isn’t yet publicly known. Greg Joyce of The New York Post previously relayed that Trivino was present at the club’s spring training facilities.

Trivino, 32, was acquired by the Yankees at the 2022 deadline in the same deal that brought Frankie Montas to the Bronx. He was excellent in pinstripes, posting a 1.66 earned run average over 25 appearances. His 10.8% walk rate in that time was a tad high but his 23.7% strikeout rate was solid and his 51.7% ground ball rate very strong.

The Yanks kept him around for 2023 by agreeing to a $4.1M salary, avoiding arbitration. Unfortunately, it would prove to be a lost season for the righty. He was diagnosed with an elbow sprain during spring training and began the year on the injured list, ultimately requiring Tommy John surgery in May.

The Yanks could have retained him via arbitration again for 2024, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting another $4.1M salary after he missed the entire 2023 campaign. The Yankees non-tendered him instead, sending him out to free agency.

Now they will be bringing him back, presumably at a lower price point. Whether he got a guaranteed roster spot or had to settle for a minor league deal isn’t yet clear. The Yanks can now move injured players to the 60-day injured list, having already transferred Scott Effross there. Jasson Domínguez is going to be out until the summer due to his Tommy John rehab and would also be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL when the Yanks need a roster spot.

Trivino could move to the 60-day IL if he is on the 40-man. Given that Tommy John rehab generally takes 14 months or longer, he likely won’t be able to rejoin the club until the summer. But once healthy, he could provide a nice boost to the relief mix. The club has an affinity for ground ball pitchers and he would certainly qualify. In his 285 career appearances, Trivino has a 3.86 ERA, 24.5% strikeout rate, 10.6% walk rate and 47.4% ground ball rate.