The New York Yankees have bolstered their pitching staff for the stretch run, signing veteran right-hander Paul Blackburn to a Major League contract. The team announced the move ahead of their four-game series against the Boston Red Sox, adding the 2022 All-Star to the active roster.
The signing comes just days after Blackburn, 31, was released by the crosstown rival New York Mets. After a challenging and injury-plagued season in Queens, Blackburn cleared release waivers on August 19, making him a free agent available to sign with any team. For the Yankees, this represents a low-risk move to add an experienced arm, as the Mets remain responsible for the majority of his $4.05 million salary for the 2025 season, with the Yankees only needing to pay the prorated league minimum.
Blackburn’s tenure with the Mets was brief and tumultuous. He was acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the 2024 trade deadline but struggled to find consistent form. His 2025 season was derailed by multiple stints on the injured list, first with right knee inflammation to start the year and later with a shoulder impingement in July. In seven appearances (four starts) for the Mets this season, Blackburn posted an 0-3 record with a 6.85 ERA and one save, striking out 18 batters over 23.2 innings. His struggles culminated in the Mets designating him for assignment on August 16.
Despite his recent difficulties, Blackburn brings a solid track record to the Bronx. A former first-round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2012, he spent the bulk of his nine-year career with the Oakland Athletics from 2017 to 2024. His best season came in 2022, when he was named the A’s lone representative at the All-Star Game. That year, he posted a 7-6 record with a 4.28 ERA across 21 starts. Over his career, Blackburn has compiled a 22-31 record with a 4.96 ERA in 93 games, 86 of which have been starts, totaling 452 innings pitched.
The Antioch, California native has shown flashes of effectiveness even this season. During a rehab assignment in July, he posted a 2.42 ERA over his final four Triple-A starts. Upon his return to the Mets, he tossed five innings of long relief against the Atlanta Braves on August 13, allowing just two earned runs. The Yankees are hoping he can provide valuable innings, either as a spot starter or a long reliever, as they navigate the final weeks of the regular season and push for a playoff spot.
To make room for Blackburn on the 26-man active roster, the Yankees optioned right-handed pitcher Allan Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The move provides the Yankees with a stretched-out pitcher who can offer flexibility to a staff that has dealt with its own share of challenges, giving them another experienced option as they head into the critical final month of the season.
