Yankees sign left-hander Wade LeBlanc to minors deal

The Yankees have signed veteran left-hander Wade LeBlanc to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.

The contract will pay Wade LeBlanc $1 million if he makes the Yankees out of Spring Training and provides an opt-out clause if he doesn’t.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because this is actually LeBlanc’s second go-round with the Bombers. He pitched only once for the team, allowing two runs in one inning of work in a 7-4 loss to Oakland back on June 4, 2014.

In parts of nine big-league seasons, dating back to 2008, LeBlanc, 33, has suited up for the Padres, Marlins, Astros, Angels (twice), Yankees, Mariners and Pirates.

The Lake Charles, LA native was a starter for his first seven-plus seasons, and as recently as 2016. But when the Pirates acquired him from Seattle that September, they thrust him right into short duty.

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In 2017, after moving to the Pittsburgh ‘pen, LeBlanc enjoyed one of his most successful summers. He set a career high in appearances (50) and twirled 68 innings with a good-enough 4.50 ERA.

LeBlanc allowed just 64 hits, and his strikeout rate (7.1 per nine) and walk rate (2.3 per nine) were decent.

Fascinatingly, his repertoire, which belongs to the finesse starter he used to be, makes him somewhat anachronistic in the Age of the Fireball.

He is a fastball/changeup pitcher who subsists entirely on guile and deception. The Louisiana Not-Quite-Lightning tops out in the upper 80s with his fastball and plays it off a mid-80s cutter and a high-70s change. He’s also got a slider and a curveball but used breaking balls just 11% of the time in 2017.

With the move, New York adds a veteran arm who can hopefully provide another left-handed option for the big league club. The Yanks have six relievers deadlocked into their Opening Day roster, and all of them except closer Aroldis Chapman throw right-handed. LeBlanc figures to compete with Chasen Shreve to be the team’s second southpaw.

Familiar faces (and right-handers) Ben Heller, Jonathan Holder and Giovanny Gallegos will also be in the mix for the last bullpen spot. But the Yankees would probably prefer to carry two lefties instead of one.

Hopefully, LeBlanc sticks around even if he doesn’t make the team right away. The Yankees will need pitching depth, and likely sooner rather than later. When the staff needs reinforcements, LeBlanc’s experience and versatility should place him at the front of the line.

Next: How the Yanks ca acquire Travis Shaw

So far, LeBlanc and infielder Jace Peterson are the Yankees’ only non-roster spring invites.

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