Yankees sign former Orioles pitcher to minor-league contract

The Yankees continue to add to their pitching depth.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman doesn’t care if you’re laughing at his low-key moves this offseason despite the fact the team needs to make a league-shattering move for a No. 2 starter. He’s going to continue his work until that opportunity arises.

For now, he added another starting pitcher on a minor-league deal to give us a full on competition in spring training. Former Orioles right-hander Asher Wojciechowski will have an opportunity in the coming months to earn himself a roster spot.

However, it doesn’t seem likely. Never say never, but Wojciechowski’s stats are … really bad. The 32-year-old hasn’t had an impressive minor league career, which isn’t surprising when you look at his MLB stats.

Pitcher Asher Wojciechowski, 32, has been invited to the #Yankees major-league camp this spring on a minor-league deal that pays him $750,000 if he makes it to the big leagues. He pitched last year for the #Orioles, and has a career 9-15 record and 5.95 ERA in 57 games, 34 starts
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 21, 2021

The upside here? He has experience in the AL East. We’ll take it! And he’s also another member of the Eric Cressey army, which explains a lot. Cressy is likely the reason the Yankees signed Corey Kluber and another factor in the “links” to Chicago Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks. Maybe if we keep fulfilling Cressey’s suggestions, he’ll bring us the big fish?

Wojciechowski is a former first-round pick out of Auburn, but has been unable to find his footing ever since debuting in 2015 with the Houston Astros. Damn, he just missed the ball-doctoring crew that could’ve elevated his career!

Anyway, he got shelled in 2020, and his best season came in 2019, when he appeared in 17 games (16 starts) and recorded a 4.92 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 80 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. He has a four-pitch mix featuring a fastball, slider, cutter and changeup, with his cutter becoming much more prominent the last two years.

Wojciechowski made the 2015 Astros Opening Day roster as the 5th starter. https://t.co/9RNPopsu7b
— Robert Ford (@raford3) January 21, 2021

In case you were curious, here are his stats against our AL East foes (obviously excluding the Orioles):

Red Sox: 2-2 with a 1.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP
Blue Jays: 0-2 with 7.62 ERA and 1.54 WHIP
Rays: 0-1 with a 5.32 ERA and 1.27 WHIP

Maybe we just pitch him against Boston when someone needs a rest? Sounds like a plan to us!

Yankees: This Kyle Hendricks trade with Cubs should get the job done

The New York Yankees need to make a move for a starting pitcher and Chicago Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks fits the bill almost too perfectly.

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