Kirby Yates: A Top Free Agent Reliever Eyeing a New Team

Right-hander Kirby Yates is garnering significant attention in this year's free agency, with the Cubs already showing interest. Recently, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 added the Tigers to the list of potential suitors. At 38 years old in March, Yates has proven himself to be one of the better relievers available on the market.

Yates just completed an outstanding season with the Rangers, pitching 61 2/3 innings and allowing a mere 1.17 earned runs per nine innings. His impressive performance was somewhat bolstered by a .168 batting average on balls in play and an 88.1% strand rate—both indicators of some fortunate circumstances. Nevertheless, his 2.50 FIP and 2.85 SIERA adjusted numbers suggest that Yates would have fared well even with average luck.

Despite a slightly high 11.1% walk rate, Yates struck out 35.9% of batters faced and maintained a 45.5% ground ball rate. Taking over the closer's role in Texas, he secured 33 saves throughout the season.

Yates' ability to secure a lucrative contract will be constrained by his age and injury history. From 2020 to 2022, Yates barely pitched, primarily due to undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2023 with a solid, though not dominant, performance, recording a 3.28 ERA with a 31.5% strikeout rate, 14.6% walk rate, and a 36.4% ground ball rate.