The New York Yankees are facing high expectations for the upcoming season following a disappointing performance in 2023. The team’s front office, coaching staff, and players have acknowledged the need to move past last season’s struggles and are focused on turning things around. To address the shortcomings, significant upgrades were made, including acquisitions such as Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Marcus Stroman, which should bolster their competitiveness in the fiercely competitive American League. Despite these improvements, concerns linger, particularly regarding the bullpen. Injuries have already plagued the team, with Scott Effross expected to miss a significant portion of the season, Tommy Kahnle recovering from a shoulder injury, and Lou Trevino sidelined for 60 days. Consequently, the Yankees found it imperative to make additional moves to reinforce their pitching depth.

New York took action by claiming McKinley Moore off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies, as confirmed by the team’s own social media channels. This move saw the addition of the right-handed pitcher to the 40-man roster, coinciding with Lou Trevino’s transfer to the injured list. Moore, aged 25, was originally selected in the 14th round by the Chicago White Sox. He has primarily played in the minor leagues until his MLB debut with the Phillies last year. While his initial stint in the majors was challenging, with seven earned runs conceded on five hits over 3 1/3 innings pitched, Moore has demonstrated potential during his minor league career, boasting a career ERA of 3.92 across 118 appearances and one start over four professional seasons.