Yankees Claim Reliever John Schreiber From Royals

The New York Yankees claimed veteran reliever John Schreiber off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on Monday, August 31, 2026, adding to their bullpen depth ahead of the September roster expansion. The move comes as the Royals, who are out of playoff contention, continue to evaluate their roster for the future.

Schreiber, a 32-year-old right-hander, had been placed on waivers by Kansas City over the weekend. The Yankees will assume the remaining portion of his 2026 contract, which is approximately $600,000. Due to the team's position as a third-time payor over the competitive balance tax threshold, the total cost to add Schreiber is estimated to be around $1.1 million.

This season, Schreiber posted a 3.65 earned run average in 55 appearances for the Royals. He was particularly effective against right-handed batters, holding them to a .143 batting average. However, left-handed hitters found more success, batting .326 against him. Advanced metrics suggest his surface-level ERA may have been buoyed by favorable luck on balls in play and strand rate.

For the Yankees, the acquisition addresses a pressing need. The club recently lost pitchers Fernando Cruz and Ryan Weathers to the...