FILE - Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. throws during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. The New York Yankees acquired Leiter from the Cubs, Tuesday, July 30 2024, to bolster their bullpen, sending right-hander Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles to Chicago. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson, File)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The New York Yankees didn’t make any splashy moves at Tuesday’s trade deadline but retooled their bullpen in search of more strikeouts.
New York acquired right-handers Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs and Enyel De Los Santos from the San Diego Padres while dealing left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the Houston Astros.
New York sent right-hander Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles to the Cubs and outfielder Brandon Lockridge to the Padres while getting minor league right-hander Thomas Balboni Jr. from the Padres. The Yankees received minor league right-hander Kelly Austin and international signing bonus pool allocation from the Astros.
In their biggest move ahead of the deadline, the Yankees got infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. from Miami last weekend.
Leiter’s father Mark made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1990 and his uncle Al pitched for the Yankees from 1987-89 and again in 2005.
Mark Leiter Jr., 33, is 2-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 39 relief appearances, striking out 53 in 36 1/3 innings, an average of 13.13 per nine innings. The Yankees have been searching to add swing-and-miss relievers to a bullpen that averaged 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings entering Tuesday, 17th among big league bullpens.
“More than anything, he’s a good pitcher,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Tuesday night’s game in Philadelphia. “He’s also thrown the ball really well the last month. We’re excited to get him, and I know he’s excited to get here.”
Boone said Leiter was on his way to Philadelphia and could be available for the game, depending on his travel.
Leiter has allowed just three of 21 inherited runners to score and held batters to a .196 average.
He was on the injured list from June 23 to July 9 because of a strained right forearm and has retired all 23 batters he faced since returning, striking out 14.
Leiter is signed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract. He is eligible for salary arbitration this winter and can become a free agent after the 2026 World Series.
De Los Santos, 28, will have to trim his beard when he reports to the Yankees.
He was 1-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 44 relief appearances, striking out 48 and walking 13 in 40 1/3 innings while allowing 11 home runs. De Los Santos has a $1.16 million salary and is eligible for arbitration in each of the next two offseasons, then free agency after the 2026 World Series.
The 24-year-old Cowles was hitting .294 with 25 doubles, nine homers and 51 RBIs for Double-A Somerset. A 10th-round draft pick in 2021 from Maryland, he signed for a $140,000 bonus.
Neely, also 24, is 1-1 with six saves and a 2.81 ERA for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Somerset this year. An 11th-round draft pick from Ohio State in 2021, he signed for a $150,000 bonus.
Acquired in February from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ferguson had a 5.13 ERA in 42 relief appearances, striking out 41 in 33 1/3 innings while going 1-3 with one save. Signed to a $2.4 million, one-year contract, Ferguson can become a free agent after the World Series.
Austin had a 2.21 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 26 games at Class A this season. The 23-year-old from UCLA was bypassed in last year’s amateur draft and signed for a $100,000 bonus.
Balboni, 24, is 4-1 with two saves and a 4.46 ERA at Class A this year. He was taken by San Diego in the 15th round of the 2022 amateur draft and signed for $125,000,
Lockridge, 27, hit .295 with no homers, 32 RBIs and 34 steals for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was a fifth-round draft pick in 2018 and signed for $297,500.
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