Michael

Fulmer

Fulmer was designated for assignment by the Angels after making three appearances in which he registered a 1.09 WHIP and a 4/2 K/BB ratio over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He will immediately join the Yankees bullpen.

The Angels needed to clear a spot on their roster for the return of Yusei Kikuchi from the 60-day injured list on Sunday and unfortunately Fulmer wound up as the odd man out. The 33-year-old hurler pitched well in three appearances with the Angels, posting a 1.09 WHIP and a 4/2 K/BB ratio over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. IT wouldn’t be surprising to see him garner interest on waivers.

Fulmer, in the majors for the first time in 2026, gets a bullpen spot four days after being signed to a minor league contract by the Angels. He previously had a 2.98 ERA in 42 1/3 innings of work for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. The 33-year-old has a career 37-50 record and a 3.95 ERA in 90 starts and 175 relief appearances as a major leaguer, but he’s totaled just 5 2/3 innings since requiring elbow surgery in 2024.

Fulmer spent the last few months at Triple-A Sacramento after being in camp with the Giants this spring. The 33-year-old reliever hasn’t been back in the majors since making three combined appearances between the Cubs and Red Sox last year. He’s merely emergency organizational depth at this stage of his career.

Fulmer’s stuff was not up to par as he tried to win a bullpen job this spring; his 91.1 mph average on his fastball was down 2.6 mph from his brief time in the majors last year and 3.1 mph down from where he was pre-Tommy John in 2023. He’ll have to go to Triple-A and try to build up.

Fulmer’s stuff didn’t immediately come all of the way back after Tommy John, so he bounced around last year, pitching for four organizations. He ended up with a 3.39 ERA and an 86/29 K/BB in 66 1/3 innings while working mostly as a reliever in Triple-A. During his time in the majors, he allowed three earned runs and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings. The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year hasn’t started regularly since 2020, so he’ll presumably compete for a spot in the Giants pen this spring.

Fulmer heads to Seattle as emergency organizational relief depth after being released earlier this week by the Royals. The well-traveled 32-year-old veteran made three relief appearances earlier this season between the Cubs and Red Sox.

Fulmer elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Cubs, and he finds a new home just a couple of days later. The 32-year-old will need to be added to the 40-man roster to pitch for the Royals, but if he impresses in the PCL that isn’t out of the question.

Fulmer will hit the open market in search of a new opportunity after refusing an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa. The 32-year-old reliever went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment last week by the Cubs. He made just two relief appearances during a brief stint with Chicago.

Fulmer was brought up to the active roster on Monday and threw three shutout innings while allowing two hits and striking out one. With Shota Imanaga back from injury, the Cubs needed a roster spot and decided to move on from Fulmer. He’ll likely latch on with somebody else or look for another chance with the Cubs.