Yankees Sign Once-Dominant Reliever Off Waivers
Morgan had been designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals on August 13, cleared waivers, and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha before electing free agency.
New York wasted little time scooping him up.
The Version New York Is Betting On
Two years ago, Morgan was one of the more dominant relievers in baseball. He posted a career-best 1.93 ERA across 42 innings for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, going 3-0 with a 0.98 WHIP and holding opponents to a .197 batting average.
He carried that form into October as well, pitching to a 2.25 ERA across six postseason appearances as Cleveland reached the ALCS.
Eli Morgan to Yankees. MILB deal.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 21, 2026
That version of Morgan is a long way from what he's shown since.
He struggled in a brief 2025 stint with the Chicago Cubs, then signed with Kansas City this past offseason and posted a 5.12 ERA and 1.707 WHIP across 16 games before his release.
He was pitching well at Triple-A before the DFA, though, posting a 1.40 ERA with three saves across 22 minor league appearances.
Career Built On Quiet Consistency
The Guardians drafted Morgan in the eighth round back in 2017 out of Gonzaga, and he spent parts of five seasons in Cleveland, working as both a spot starter and a middle reliever before settling into a bullpen role.
He carries a 4.25 ERA across 184 career MLB games, with 282 strikeouts and 21 holds along the way. Cleveland traded him to the Cubs in November 2024 in exchange for a Class A prospect.
The Yankees signed RHP Eli Morgan to a Minor League deal, according to @JonHeyman.
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) August 21, 2026
Morgan had a 5.12 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 19.1 IP. pic.twitter.com/zWx0WlfQYf
New York remains without Max Fried on the injured list, and Carlos Rodon is only just working his way back into the rotation, leaving the pitching staff stretched as the Yankees push through the stretch run.
Morgan is the second veteran reliever the Yankees have added off the Royals or AL Central scrap heap in the past two weeks, following right-hander Justin Topa.
The Yankees have built a reputation as one of the better organizations in baseball at reclaiming reliever talent, having found success with reclamation projects like Luke Weaver, Paul Blackburn, and Tim Hill in recent years.
New York's bullpen already carries a 3.00 ERA, second-best in the majors, so Morgan may spend most of his time in the minors as insurance. But given his track record just two seasons ago, he's exactly the kind of low-cost bet the Yankees have made a habit of getting right.
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