Yankees acquire JT Brubaker, international money in trade with Pirates

Kevin Hickey

Yankees acquire JT Brubaker, international money in trade with Pirates image

The New York Yankees acquired right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker and international bonus pool money in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later, the team announced Friday.

Brubaker is currently working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in April 2023. A sixth-round pick with the Pirates 2015 MLB Draft, Brubaker has a 4.99 ERA in 63 games (61 starts). He made his debut with the Pirates in 2020.

Because Brubaker is currently on the 60-day injured list as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery, no corresponding roster move is needed by the Yankees.

The 30-year-old righty features a five-pitch mix, relying on a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider, sinker and changeup. He predominantly throws sinkers and sliders, which account for 72.9% of his pitches thrown at the Major League level, according to Baseball Savant.

Brubaker wound up needing surgery on his elbow the season following a career-high 144 innings pitched during the 2022 campaign. His rates on ground balls (43.8%), whiffs (27.3%) and chases (30.6%) are all above league average.

It isn't clear what the Yankees have planned for Brubaker upon his return from Tommy John rehab, but there's a chance it comes near the All-Star break.

Kevin Hickey

Kevin Hickey Photo

Hickey was previously the managing editor of USA Today's Colts Wire. His work is also featured as a fantasy football analyst for The Huddle. A career .232 hitter, he is an avid reader of Spider-Man comics, an admirer of the James Webb Space Telescope, and a keen enthusiast of Ma’s sauce. You can find him on Twitter/X @KevinHickey11