The New York Yankees signed pitcher Jake Woodford to a minor league contract, MLB Trade Rumors reported Monday.
Woodford is a five-year veteran; he has played in 89 career games (25 starts) with a 10-13 record, a 4.88 ERA, a 1.411 WHIP and 145 total strikeouts.
He pitched the first four seasons of his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Last season, he split time with the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates; in nine total games, he recorded a 7.97 ERA.
The 28-year-old spent spring training with the Colorado Rockies. He pitched 12 innings, allowing 12 hits, four walks and seven runs while striking out six. On Sunday, he opted out of his minor league deal and elected free agency.
The Yankees’ rotation has been decimated by injuries with Gerrit Cole undergoing Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil (lat) on the 60-day IL. Woodford will give them additional pitching depth at the minor league level.