Miguel

Yajure

The 27-year-old hurler hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2022 season with the Giants and spent the past two seasons pitching in Japan. Given the unbelievable number of injuries that the Astros are dealing with in their starting rotation at the moment, they need to stockpile depth any way that they can, so this move makes sense.

Yajure was removed from San Francisco’s 40-man roster last offseason and wound up posting a lackluster 6.07 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 80/38 K/BB ratio across 75 2/3 innings (22 appearances, 19 starts) across three minor league levels. He’s made 19 appearances (four starts) in the big leagues dating back to 2020. The 25-year-old righty will aim to rebuild his long-term value overseas.

Yajure went unclaimed on waivers after being removed from the Giants’ 40-man roster to make room for the club to sign free agent right-hander Ross Stripling. The 24-year-old right-hander was claimed off waivers from the Pirates earlier this month and will remain with San Francisco as organizational pitching depth.

Yajure was never a big-upside guy, but the Pirates liked him as a potential fourth or fifth starter when they got him from the Yankees in the Jameson Taillon deal. Alas, he wound up making just four starts and 12 relief appearances in two years with the club, amassing an 8.69 ERA in the process. Maybe a better team will have more luck with him, but since he’s out of options, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him wind up back on waivers at some point.

Yajure tossed four scoreless innings in a spot start Monday night against the Nationals, but he wasn’t going to be available for a little while in the aftermath. Aaron Fletcher will take over the vacant roster spot on Tuesday.

Yajure allowed four hits, walked three and struck out none, so it seems like he was fortunate to get through this one without any damage. He’s recorded just four strikeouts and walked nine in 14 1/3 innings for the Pirates this season.

Yajure draws the starting assignment for Monday’s series opener against the Nationals. The 24-year-old righty isn’t expected to work deep into the contest and it’s shaping up to be a bullpen game for Pittsburgh. He’s allowed 13 runs on 16 hits with a 4/6 K/BB ratio across 10 1/3 innings (six appearances) this season in the majors. There are better streaming options out there for fantasy managers.

Yajure has been sent to the minors as part of the Pirates’ roster cutdown to 26 players ahead of Monday’s deadline. The 24-year-old righty has allowed 13 runs on 16 hits with a 4/6 K/BB ratio across 10 1/3 innings (six appearances) this season at the major-league level.

Yajure was barely considered for a rotation spot this spring, but he was terrific today, throwing three mph harder in relief than he did in his three major league starts last season. If he can maintain that, he could be a sleeper later this year.

Yajure suffered a lower back injury late in the regular season, so the Pirates don’t want to rush him into action. The good news is that he’s expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Yajure, 23, allowed 14 runs in 15 innings of work with the Pirates this season.