Yankees Beat The Clock To Claim Veteran Reliever Off Waivers
Monday, August 31, was the final day contending teams could claim a player off waivers and still have him eligible for a potential postseason roster, since players must be with an organization by September 1 to qualify.
Sherman reported Schreiber will officially join the roster Tuesday, giving New York a 14th pitcher just as active rosters expand from 26 to 28 for the stretch run.
John Schreiber against RHH this season:
— The Yankee Report (@YankeeReport_) August 31, 2026
0.58 WHIP | 2.78 FIP | 3.12 xFIP | .143 OPP AVG | 21.2% K-BB%
He has DOMINATED righties all season long. pic.twitter.com/mmoHE3zd6t
Why Kansas City Let Him Go
The Royals placed Schreiber on waivers Saturday, continuing to shed veteran pieces as they play out a lost season 7.5 games back of a playoff spot.
Kansas City had already tried to trade him ahead of the August deadline but couldn't find a partner willing to take on the contract, eventually settling for whatever cash savings a waiver claim could provide.
The move will save the Royals roughly $600,000 for the rest of the season, with New York now on the hook for what remains of his salary.
RHP John Schreiber has been claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 31, 2026
Schreiber, 32, posted a 3.65 ERA across 55 appearances and 49.1 innings for Kansas City this year, with a .232 opponents' batting average.
The underlying numbers tell a slightly more complicated story, with his 17.7 percent strikeout rate the lowest of his career and his 10.8 percent walk rate his second-highest, pushing his FIP to 4.87 against a .248 BABIP that suggests some good fortune has propped up the ERA.
Bullpen Leaning Hard On Reinforcements
Schreiber becomes the third veteran reliever the Yankees have added in the past week alone, joining Michael Fulmer and Justin Topa as New York works around injuries to Fernando Cruz and Ryan Weathers.
He's no stranger to high-leverage work, having spent three seasons in Kansas City after the Royals acquired him from the Red Sox before 2024, making 188 relief appearances with a 3.71 ERA in that stretch.
The Royals placed righty reliever John Schreiber on waivers. He has a 3.65 ERA in 55 appearances and only has about $600,000 left if a team claims him. Righties are hitting just .143 off him (LHHs: .326).
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 30, 2026
For his career, the right-hander has compiled a 3.65 ERA with 13 saves and 42 games finished since debuting with Boston, who selected him in the 15th round of the Tigers' 2016 draft class before he later signed with Boston as a free agent.
With the Yankees fighting for the top American League Wild Card spot, Schreiber gives manager Aaron Boone another experienced arm to lean on as the calendar turns toward October.
