Why Yankees added ex-Red Sox, Royals veteran reliever off waivers

The New York Yankees made an addition to their bullpen on Monday. 

According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, the AL East club has claimed right-hander John Schreiber off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. 

The Royals placed the 32-year-old on waivers on Saturday. With rosters expanding from 26 to 28 on Tuesday, MLB clubs can carry a maximum of 14 pitchers. 

Since the Yankees recently designated reliever Justin Topa for assignment, they won't have to make a corresponding move to add Schreiber to the roster. 

Schreiber is an impending free agent and posted a respectable 3.65 ERA in 55 appearances with Kansas City. 

He was a key member of the Boston Red Sox bullpen from 2021-23, even recording eight saves in his first season with the Yankees' arch-rivals. 

"Schreiber is running a 45.4% ground-ball rate, one of the highest of his career, though his strikeout (18%) and walk (11%) numbers have gone in the wrong direction," Connor Byrne of MLB Trade Rumors wrote. 

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After failing to land a reliever or two at the deadline, the Yankees have added from outside the organization via free agency and the waiver wire. 

They signed right-hander Michael Fulmer last week, and he's thrown two scoreless appearances. 

It's unclear what Schreiber's role will be, but the Yankees are clearly hoping that he has enough in the tank to throw important innings down the stretch of the regular season. 

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