Yankees Sign Former All-Star On Wild Journeyman Run
New York also recalled Elmer Rodriguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, optioned Bradley Hanner back down, placed Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, and transferred Kervin Castro to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man spot for Fulmer.
Remarkable Pace Of Movement
Fulmer's road to the Bronx has been unusually fast even by journeyman standards.
He signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants over the winter, only to be released on August 4. He caught on with the Los Angeles Angels on a minor league deal a week later, had his contract selected four days after that, made just three appearances, was designated for assignment, and cleared waivers before landing with New York.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 26, 2026
• Placed RHP Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.
• Optioned RHP Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
• Recalled RHP Elmer Rodríguez (#71) from Triple-A…
That stretch follows an earlier run through the Cubs and Red Sox organizations this same season, giving him at least six different stops since April alone.
New York Still Sees Value
New York placed Max Fried on the IL a couple of weeks ago, and Carlos Rodon's return helped cover that hole temporarily, but Ryan Weathers soon followed Fried to the injured list, reopening the gap Fulmer now helps fill.
Fulmer, 33, carries pedigree even amid the recent instability. He won American League Rookie of the Year with the Detroit Tigers in 2016, going 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA, then made an All-Star team the following year with a 3.83 ERA across 25 starts.
His career has been marred by injuries since, including a Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2019 season and a UCL revision procedure that wiped out his entire 2024 campaign with the Red Sox.
He owns a career 3.94 ERA across 262 appearances.
The Yankees have placed Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) August 26, 2026
The Yankees have signed former Rookie of the Year RHP Michael Fulmer as the corresponding move.
Fulmer, 33, last pitched for the Angels earlier this season.#Yankees pic.twitter.com/wbTjIOyASK
New York's bullpen has quietly been one of the better units in baseball this season, and Fulmer gives the Yankees another arm to mix in as they work through the stretch run with two rotation pieces already sidelined.
Whether he sticks beyond a short-term look will likely come down to how well he pitches in what's become an increasingly crowded field of veteran relievers cycling through the roster.
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