Left-hander Thomas Pannone has signed a minor league contract with the Yankees and has been assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, as noted on MLB.com’s transactions tracker. Previously with the Cubs on a minor league deal, he was released earlier this week.
Pannone, 30, had been pitching in the rotation for Triple-A Iowa before his release and was performing well, potentially triggering an opt-out clause. After signing with the Cubs in the winter, he pitched 90 2/3 innings over 19 starts, posting a 4.37 ERA, a 22% strikeout rate, an 8.1% walk rate, and a 42% ground ball rate. Given the high run-scoring environment in the International League, where pitchers have a combined 4.90 ERA, Pannone’s 4.37 ERA ranks 12th out of 29 qualified pitchers.
The Yankees currently have a strong major league rotation, but their depth has been challenged by injuries. While Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, Marcus Stroman, and Luis Gil occupy the major league spots, several potential depth options like Clarke Schmidt, JT Brubaker, Cody Poteet, and Clayton Beeter are injured. Schmidt has been on the injured list since late May with a lat strain and hasn’t started a rehab assignment. Poteet has been out for about a month with a right triceps strain, and Brubaker, recovering from Tommy John surgery, was recently sidelined with an oblique strain. Beeter is dealing with a shoulder issue and might be out for the season, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post on X.
With Pannone performing decently this year, the Yankees have added him to bolster their depth. He has 118 2/3 innings of major league experience with the Blue Jays and Brewers, posting a 5.46 ERA. He also pitched 165 innings for the KBO’s Kia Tigers in 2022 and 2023, achieving a 3.49 ERA. If Pannone is added to New York’s roster, he will be out of options.
