The New York Yankees announced on Monday, Jan. 29, that they have claimed LHP (left-handed pitcher) Matt Gage off waivers from the Houston Astros.

 

According to the Yankees, Gage, 30, posted a 2.70 ERA (earned run average) 6.2IP (innings pitched), 6H (hits), 2ER (earned runs), 3BB (base on balls), 8K (strikeouts), and one HR (home run) in five relief appearances with the Houston Astros in 2023.

 

Yankees officials said Gage spent the majority of the 2023 season with Triple-A Sugar Land, a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, going 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA (37.1IP, 41H, 20R/19ER, 20BB, 39K, 5HR) in 34 relief appearances. They said Gage was designated for assignment by Houston on Jan. 22.

 

Over parts of two Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2022) and the Houston Astros (2023), they went on to say that Gage has gone 0-1 with a 1.83 ERA (19.2IP, 12H, 6R/4ER, 9BB, 20K, 2HR) in 16 career relief appearances.

 

Yankees officials said that in nine minor league seasons in the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros organizations, the left-handed pitcher has gone 47-44 with two complete games (one shutout), 15 saves and a 4.22 ERA (777.0IP, 862H, 408R/364ER, 219BB, 663K, 51HR) in 249 games (119 starts).

 

Additionally, they said Gage spent part of the 2018 season with the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Atlantic League (Independent), the 2019 season with the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican League and the 2020 season with the Eastern Reyes del Tigre in the Constellation Energy League (Independent).

 

They said the Johnstown, N.Y., native was originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 10^th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Siena College.

 

Yankees officials said to make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated INF (infielder) / OF Diego Castillo for assignment.

 

On Jan. 18, the Yankees announced they had signed RHP (right handed pitcher) Luke Weaver to a one-year Major League contract for the 2024 season with a club option for the 2025 season.

 

They said Weaver, 30, made 29 combined appearances (25 starts) with the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and Yankees in 2023, going 3-6 with a 6.40 ERA (123.2IP, 155H, 90R/88ER, 40BB, 109K, 29HR). They said he also made two rehab starts with Triple-A Louisville in the Reds organization (9.0IP, 3H, 3ER, 4BB, 9K, 1HR).

 

Yankees officials said Weaver began the 2023 season with the Cincinnati Reds, signing a one-year Major League contract on January 13, 2023. He was released by Cincinnati on August 18, 2023, and signed a Major League contract with the Seattle Mariners on August 22, 2023. They said Weaver was designated for assignment by Seattle on September 10, 2023, and claimed off waivers by the Yankees on September 12, 2023. They said he made three starts for the Yankees, going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA (13.1IP, 14H, 5ER, 3BB, 16K, 3HR).

 

Over parts of eight Major League seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2016-18), Arizona Diamondbacks (2019-22), Kansas City Royals (2022), Cincinnati Reds (2023), Seattle Mariners (2023) and Yankees (2023), Yankees officials said Weaver has gone 27-42 with a 5.14 ERA (574.1IP, 638H, 353R/328ER, 188BB, 571K, 90HR).

 

They said the DeLand, Fla., native was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (27^th overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University. They said he was acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks along with C Carson Kelly, INF Andrew Young and a competitive balance draft pick from the Cardinals in exchange for INF Paul Goldschmidt on December 5, 2018.

 

The right-handed pitcher was acquired by the Kansas City Royals from the Diamondbacks in exchange for INF Emmanuel Rivera on August 1, 2022, Yankees officials said, adding that Weaver was originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19^th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign.

 

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated OF Bubba Thompson for assignment.

 

On Jan. 24, the Yankees outrighted INF Jeter Downs and OF Oscar González to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Additionally, Thompson was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.

 

Last December, the Yankees announced that they had acquired LHP Victor González and INF Jorbit Vivas from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for INF Trey Sweeney.