The New York Yankees got Aroldis Chapman back over the weekend, but they’re also gearing up for the return of two more bullpen arms in Scott Effross and Albert Abreu.
The team announced Sunday morning that both Abreu and Effross would start rehab assignments early next week. Abreu will start with Double-A Somerset, and Effross will feature with Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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The Yankees have gotten the most out of Albert Abreu:
Abreu has had an interesting season for the Yankees this year, being traded in the deal that brought Jose Treviño to New York but was then released by the Texas Rangers and picked up by the Kansas City Royals.
When the Royals let go of him, the Yankees scooped him back up, and he’s been adequate at 26 years old. Across three teams, Abreu features a 3.32 ERA with nine strikeouts per 9 over 38 innings.
With the Yankees, he hosts 3.24 ERA, 3.11 xFIP, and 9.36 strikeouts per 9 over 25 innings. He also hosts a 74.5% left on-base rate and a 48.6% ground ball rate. His home run metrics have decreased exponentially, allowing 0.72 per nine innings compared to his numbers with TEX and KCR.
Ramping up Scott Effross is essential:
However, the return of Effross is far more impactful, especially since the Yankees view him as an integral piece during the postseason. Effross is essentially a rookie this year, pitching 14.2 innings for the Cubs last season at the major league level.
This year, he’s up to 52.1 innings, earning a 2.75 ERA with 9.97 strikeouts per nine across both teams. For the Yankees specifically, he’s earned a 3.24 ERA, 8.64 strikeouts per nine, and a 65.8% left on-base rate.
Along with the majority of the Yankees’ trade deadline moves, Scott’s efficiency has decreased a bit wearing pinstripes. He’s only pitched 8.1 innings for the Yankees before heading to the injured list with a right shoulder strain on August 21.
The Bombers gave up starting pitcher Haden Wesneski in exchange for Effross, but considering the Yankees still have full-service time rights over Scott, the deal seems to be rather fair. He will only be a free agent in 2028 and is arbitration eligible in 2025, keeping his cost way down for the next few seasons.
Nonetheless, ramping up over the next few weeks is essential for Effross, who undoubtedly figures to be a key piece in the bullpen moving forward.