With their bullpen a concern and spring training right around the corner, the Yankees acquired right-hander Angel Chivilli from the Rockies on Wednesday.
The move cost the Bombers first base prospect TJ Rumfield, who had no clear path to the majors with Ben Rice bursting onto the scene last season. The Yankees also designated recently claimed outfielder Michael Siani for assignment to make space for Chivilli on the 40-man roster.
Only 23, Chivilli had a 7.06 ERA over 43 games last season. He also allowed 2.0 HR/9 and had just a 15.6 K%. With a 6.18 ERA over 73 games since debuting with the Rockies in 2024, Chivilli’s surface numbers aren’t exactly enticing.
But Coors Field is no friend to pitchers, and the Yankees have reason to believe Chivilli can be better with a change of scenery.
With a fastball that averaged 97.1 mph, Chivilli ranked in the 88th percentile last season. His 29.7 Whiff% was in the 80th percentile, and his 49.8 groundball percentage fell in the 84th percentile. The Dominican’s slider, meanwhile, has a Stuff+ grade of 110, and his changeup yielded a 42.6 Whiff%.
With a little help from the Yankees’ well-regarded pitching department, it wouldn’t be a shock to see a more effective Chivilli now that he’s no longer calling Coors home.
If not, Chivilli, still pre-arbitration, has a minor league option and can be sent down to Triple-A. That’s what happened to Jake Bird after the Yankees acquired him from the Rockies last summer.
In the club’s ideal world, Chivilli and Bird will play key parts in a bullpen that is short on sure things heading into camp. David Bednar will close, while the nasty-but-eccentric Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval are positioned as set-up men. There’s also side-arming southpaw Tim Hill.
Other bullpen options include swingmen Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn, lefty Brent Headrick, Rule 5 Draft pick Cade Winquest, recent waiver claim Dom Hamel, and Yerry De los Santos. It’s a group that is filled with uncertainty after Devin Williams and Luke Weaver defected to the Mets this offseason, though those two had their fair share of struggles in 2025.
The Yankees had also brought in Kaleb Ort for depth this offseason, but he was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Wednesday.
Rumfield, meanwhile, now has a better chance of making his debut in 2025. He crushed 16 home runs and added a 121 wRC+ at Triple-A this past season.
