The New York Yankees have reportedly reached an agreement on a minor league contract with former Chicago Cubs pitcher Nick Burdi, according to information from the YES Network. Although the Yankees have not officially announced the deal, Burdi is set to receive an invitation to the Major League camp in Tampa in February.
Nick Burdi, a 30-year-old right-handed pitcher, spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Cubs, where he faced challenges, recording a 9.00 ERA in three innings across three games. Subsequently, he spent the remainder of the season with the Cubs’ minor league affiliates. Despite the Cubs selecting his contract from Triple-A Iowa on May 15, his progress was hindered when he landed on the 15-day injured list due to appendicitis on May 24. This setback prompted the Cubs to move him to the 60-day injured list in June and assign him to rehab stints with the ACL Cubs and Iowa. Unfortunately, he couldn’t regain the necessary form for a late-season call-up.
During the 2023 minor league season, Burdi made 23 appearances, managing a 3.86 ERA while striking out 35 and walking 15 in 21 innings, although he did not factor into any decisions. The Cubs allowed him to enter free agency last month, providing an opportunity for the Yankees to pursue him.
The Yankees, actively seeking to bolster their bullpen at both Major League and minor league levels, view Burdi as a potential asset. Burdi’s professional career began in 2014 when the Minnesota Twins drafted him out of Louisville. Notably, he has undergone two Tommy John surgeries, with the most recent one in 2020. Additionally, he has been associated with the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations. In his minor league career, Burdi holds a 10-8 record with a 3.51 ERA. At the Major League level, he has a 2-2 record with a 9.39 ERA in 19 games, spanning the 2018-2020 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. As the Yankees continue their efforts to fortify their pitching staff, the addition of Nick Burdi represents a strategic move to enhance their bullpen depth.
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