The New York Yankees were unable to re-sign key relief pitcher Lou Trivino, as reported by Fansided’s Robert Murray on Thursday. Trivino, a free agent, has agreed to a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants, which includes an invitation to Spring Training.
Trivino was acquired by the Yankees in 2022 as part of the trade for Frankie Montas from the Oakland Athletics. He quickly became one of New York’s top relief pitchers that season, posting a 1.66 ERA and striking out 22 batters in 21.2 innings. However, he has not pitched in a major league game since, as he has been recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in 2023. The Yankees declined his team option this offseason, allowing him to become a free agent.
Now, the Giants have added a high-leverage arm capable of closing games, as Trivino has 37 career saves, including 22 with Oakland in the 2021 season. He features a powerful sinker, cutter, and sweeping slider, with hitters batting just .205 against his cutter and under .200 on his off-speed pitches. Despite being 33 years old and coming off a major elbow injury, Trivino could be a valuable, cost-effective addition for San Francisco.
While the Yankees will miss Trivino, they’ve made efforts this offseason to strengthen their bullpen with more strikeout potential, acquiring Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz in separate trades and re-signing Tim Hill to a one-year deal. Although losing Trivino for half a season is unfortunate, the Yankees have ensured that their bullpen is well-prepared for 2025.
