KEY POINTS

  • The Yankees have given Danny Salazar a chance to redeem himself
  • Salazar has signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees
  • The Dominican has to prove he still has what it takes to play in the majors

The New York Yankees are keeping the faith in past MLB players whose careers have gone in an unfortunate route.

The latest one to get that chance is All-Star pitcher Danny Salazar.

According to a report by Mike Rodriguez of Univision Deportes, the Yankees have inked the 32-year-old pitcher to a minor league deal.

Salazar is the latest hurler to be given such an opportunity. The last one was Shelby Miller whom the Yankees signed to a minor league deal back in March.

The 31-year-old has notched a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched so far at Triple-A, and this could be a feat that Salazar may replicate if all goes accordingly.

The Dominican has not appeared in the majors since 2019 with the Cleveland Guardians.

In the last four years, Salazar managed to log only a mere four total innings.

One of the reasons behind that is that Salazar has been slowed down by injuries.

A shoulder injury prevented him from playing in 2018. A year later, a groin injury forced the Dominican to sit on the sidelines.

This happened after he got his first start in August of that year against the Houston Astros.

With the Guardians, he posted a 3.82 ERA in 591.1 innings pitched and earned an All-Star nod in 2016.

Salazar will have to work his way up to the majors to prove that still has the arm, and falling short is something he cannot afford at the moment as it raises questions on whether another MLB team would give him another chance to prove himself.

Danny Salazar #31 of the Cleveland Indians
Danny Salazar #31 of the Cleveland Indians Getty Images | David Maxwell