Mark

Leiter

Leiter will join the A’s bullpen after posting a 4.84 ERA in 48 1/3 innings. The 34-year-old should be a high-leverage option in 2026, and could even be inline for saves this summer. Fantasy managers will need some clarification in that situation before investing a draft pick.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers says it’s a one-year contract worth about $3 million. Leiter was non-tendered by the Yankees after putting up a 4.84 ERA in 48 1/3 innings last season. He also had a 4.50 ERA in 2024, but between the two seasons, he’s struck out 140 batters in 106 1/3 innings. He’d become the immediate favorite to close in a pretty barren A’s pen, but we imagine they’ll add a better candidate prior to spring training.

All five hurlers non-tendered have dealt with injuries over the last few years, and the Yankees will allow all to test free agency. Leiter Jr. has the stuff to be a high-leverage option, but teams will likely be reticent of investing too much in a 34-year-old that has missed as much time as he has.

Gil, is slated to take the ball for Game 1 of the best-of-five series opener in Toronto, is the lone change for New York from their Wild Card Series roster. The 27-year-old starter takes over reliever Mark Leiter Jr.'s roster spot.

Leiter, who has a 4.46 ERA in 34 1/3 innings, missed four weeks with a left fibular head stress fracture. He typically pitched with leads before getting hurt, but since the Yankees have added David Bednar and Camilo Doval, he’ll probably now more frequently pitch in games in which the Yankees are behind.

That sounds rather painful. Leiter, who says he was hurt covering first base a couple of weeks ago, has made 41 appearances with a 4.46 ERA and a 46/12 K/BB in 34 1/3 innings for the Yankees. Ian Hamilton will probably take on some higher-leverage innings in his absence.

Leiter now has two saves on the season. There are at least two options ahead of him on the depth chart in Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect more in the coming weeks/months. He has pitched well in 2025, however, with a 2.28 ERA and 35/7 K/BB ratio over 25 appearances and 23 2/3 innings of work.

Williams entered this game after having not pitched since Sunday and needing some work with the Yankees up 4-0. He proceeded to give up two singles, two walks, and a wild pitch that eventually put the tying run on second base before being pulled from the game for Mark Leiter Jr. to earn the unlikely save. Williams’ now has an ugly 12.00 ERA through his first few appearances as a Yankee.

Leiter apparently was amped up while pitching for the first time in 16 days; he averaged 94.1 mph with his sinker, up from 91.5 mph last year. Leiter struggled some after arriving in New York last summer, but he was a nice setup man for the Cubs for the year and a half before that. He might become one again at this rate.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that Leiter felt “something” in his back to keep him from making his scheduled Grapefruit League appearance. The good news is that Leiter is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session Sunday, so there’s still a chance the 34-year-old can be ready for Opening Day.