Veteran right-hander Kirby Yates announced his retirement this afternoon following the Pirates’ 4-3 loss to the Tigers in Detroit. In a game that featured the last start of Justin Verlander’s career for the Tigers, the Pirates opted for a bullpen game, and manager Don Kelly gave Yates the nod as the starter. It was the first “start” of his major league career after 517 relief appearances. Yates recorded five outs, including a Dillon Dingler strikeout, before being lifted by Yohan Ramirez. “It was good, but this was it…” Yates told reporters after the game (link via SportsNet Pittsburgh). “I have nothing left. Let’s put it that way. I’ve been running for a while. I think it’s just the moment. It feels like it’s been the moment for a while. I think I’ve given this game everything I’ve got and in return, it’s given me more than I can ever thank you or imagine.” Yates signed with the Rays in 2009 as an undrafted free agent. He came to the majors in 2014 as a 27-year-old and posted a decent 3.75 ERA in 36 innings, working a low-90s fastball and low-80s slider to strike out 26.9% of opponents. Yates struggled to a 6.13 ERA over the next two years with the Rays and Yankees, but found some rhythm with the Padres in 2017. In 61 appearances for the Friars, the right-hander struck out a dominant 38.5% of opponents against an 8.4% walk rate and a 3.72 ERA. Around this time, Yates began moving away from his slider in favor of a mid-80s splitter, which would later become his signature pitch. The 2018-19 seasons saw Yates at his best. He pitched 123 2/3 innings in that stretch with a 38.7% strikeout rate, 6.1% walk rate, and 45.2% ground ball rate, all while holding opponents to 1.67 earned runs per nine. Yates’ 32.7% K-BB rate ranked third among qualified relievers in that stretch. He also notched 53 saves, including 41 in an absolutely dominant 2019 season in which Yates posted a 1.19 ERA, made the first of two All-Star Games of his career, and even earned some Cy Young no votes. FanGraphs valued him at 5.2 wins above replacement in 2018-19, the highest among qualified relievers. Yates’ tenure with the Padres ended on a negative note, as bone chips in his throwing elbow limited him to six appearances in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays for 2021, but injured his elbow in spring training and underwent his second Tommy John surgery (the first came while he was in college). He missed all of 2021 and most of 2022 while rehabbing from that procedure. Yates returned to a major league mound in August 2022 with the Braves and made nine appearances the rest of the way. He followed up with a decent, but not great, 2023 season. Yates struck out over 30% of opponents and surpassed 60 innings for the third time in his career, but his 14.6% walk rate was the highest of his career in a full season, leading to a 3.28 ERA but a less impressive 4.49 expected number. He returned to form in 2024 as the Rangers’ closer. In 61 appearances that year, Yates, now 37, held opponents to a 1.17 ERA while posting a 35.9% strikeout rate and 33 saves in 34 chances. Walks were still high but much more manageable, and Yates eventually earned his second All-Star nod for his efforts. He struggled with the Dodgers in 2025, but did decently with the Angels earlier this year. The Pirates acquired him at the trade deadline, and Yates rewarded them with 15 innings of 1.80 ERA ball, including his work today. In total, Yates pitched 495 career innings with a 3.35 ERA, 32.7% strikeout rate, and 101 saves. He combined for 7.0 fWAR and 8.9 bWAR in parts of 12 major league seasons and earned $48.5 million in total earnings according to Baseball Reference. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Yates on his excellent career and wish him the best in whatever comes next. Photos courtesy of Brian Bradshaw Sevald, Imagn Images and Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports
