Report: Niese agrees to Minor League deal
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The Yankees and veteran left-hander Jonathon Niese agreed to a Minor League deal pending a physical, according to multiple reports on Sunday. The club has not confirmed them.
According to MLB Network insider Joel Sherman, if Niese passes the physical, the Yankees will sign and bring him to Major League camp. The Yankees could use Niese as a starter or a reliever.
The 30-year-old was drafted by and has spent almost all of his career with the crosstown Mets. The Pirates acquired Niese last offseason in the deal that brought Neil Walker to the Mets. But after struggling in Pittsburgh, the Mets, needing pitching depth amid a rash of injuries to their staff, re-acquired him at the 2016 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
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Niese has primarily been a starter throughout his eight-year career, but the Pirates moved him to the bullpen in the weeks before trading him back to the Mets. He made several relief appearances after returning to New York until undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee that ended his season in late August.
Even before the surgery, 2016 was rough for Niese. He posted a 5.50 ERA in 121 innings over 29 games (20 starts), with 47 walks and 88 strikeouts.