After 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, veteran reliever Kirby Yates has officially announced his retirement. He spent those 12 years with nine different teams. During that time, Yates never put up the most incredible numbers. However, he has posted stellar numbers in certain spurts throughout his career. Chief among which was his time with the Padres.
Yates was placed on waivers by the Anaheim Angels in 2017. The Friars picked him up in April of that year, where he posted solid numbers. The righty
posted a 3.72 ERA across 55 2/3 innings in his inaugural season with San Diego. He ramped it up in 2018 with the best season of his career. Yates pitched to a 2.14 ERA across 63 innings. He accrued 2.1 Wins Above Replacement in that year.
But 2019 was the height of his powers. Yates posted a 3.0 WAR season, dominating with a 1.19 ERA over 60 2/3 innings. He attained an astonishing 41 saves in that season with a 354 ERA+ and minuscule 0.89 WHIP. Yates received some down-ballot Cy Young votes that year as well, tying Walker Buehler for ninth place. He was the only reliever to make the list, and the first reliever to make a legitimate run for the award since Zack Britton in 2016.
In 2020, Yates was limited to just six appearances after dealing with an elbow issue that caused him to eventually undergo Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2021 season due to that. Apart from his 2024 season with the Texas Rangers (1.17 ERA, 61.2 IP), Yates has never been the same. That being said, he’s always been solid out of the ‘pen.
In his 12 seasons, Yates has pitched to a career 3.35 ERA in 518 games. In that time, he became one of the few pitchers to record 100-plus saves. The majority of those came from his incredible 2019 (41) and 2024 (33) campaigns. Yates recorded an above-average 123 ERA+ and 1.14 WHIP.
He’s unlikely to make the Hall of Fame, but could find new life in the newly-created Hall of Pretty Good. Regardless, hats off to the veteran reliever for 12 seasons in MLB, and four pristine years with the brown and gold.
