Yankees sign RHP Darren O'Day

The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed RHP Darren O’Day to a one-year contract extending through the 2021 season with a player option for 2022. If the player option is declined, there is a club option for 2022.

O’Day, 38, was 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA (16.1IP, 2ER) and 22K in 19 relief appearances for the Braves in 2020. He ranked among NL relievers (min. 15 games) in WHIP (0.80, fifth), ERA (sixth) and H/9.0IP (4.41, eighth). In 16 appearances from August 1 through September 25, he allowed only one unearned run in 13.2IP (4H, 4BB, 17K).

The Jacksonville, Fla., native is 40-19 with a 2.51 ERA (576.2IP, 430H, 173R/161ER, 158BB, 600K, 59HR) in 604 relief appearances over 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels (2008), New York Mets (2009), Texas Rangers (2009-11), Baltimore Orioles (2012-18) and Atlanta Braves (2019-20). Since his Major League debut in 2008, O’Day has the fourth-lowest ERA among qualified relievers, trailing only Craig Kimbrel (2.17), now-teammate Aroldis Chapman (2.25) and Kenley Jansen (2.39).

Since his first full season in 2009, he has limited right-handed hitters to a .186 (232-for-1,247) opponents’ batting average, third-lowest among pitchers with at least 1,200 batters faced over the span, trailing only Jansen (.161) and Chapman (.171). Over that same span, he is one of 16 pitchers to make at least 60 appearances in seven-or-more seasons.

He made a career-high 72 relief appearances with the Texas Rangers in 2010, tied for seventh-most among AL relievers. During the 2015 season, he was named to his first All-Star team with Baltimore, going 6-2 with a 1.52 ERA (65.1IP, 11ER) and a career-high 82K in 68 relief appearances.

O’Day was originally signed by the Los Angeles Angels as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Florida on May 29, 2006.

To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Ben Heller was designated for assignment.