The Yankees received Sauer as a Rule 5 Draft return from the Royals on Sunday.
Sauer was designated for assignment by Kansas City on Monday. Since the 25-year-old wasn't claimed off waivers, his rights were offered back to the Yankees, who have assigned Sauer to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Sauer appeared in 14 games for the Royals this season, posting a 7.71 ERA and 2.08 WHIP over 16.1 frames.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Matt Sauer: Jettisoned from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Royals designated Sauer for assignment Monday.
Sauer made the Royals' roster as a Rule 5 pick but managed just a 7.71 ERA and 9:11 K:BB over 16.1 innings. The 25-year-old will go through the waiver process, but if he isn't claim, the Royals must offer his rights back to the Yankees.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Matt Sauer: Solid in spring
Rotowire
Sauer has allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings across four Cactus League games.
Sauer was selected by the Royals from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft in December. As such, he has to be on the Royals' major-league roster all season or they will have to offer him back to the Yankees. Sauer hasn't pitched above Double-A yet in his career, but he had a 3.29 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 68.1 innings at that level last season. The Royals have plenty of candidates for rotation spots, but Sauer's pitched well enough in the spring to justify getting a bullpen spot in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Matt Sauer: Nabbed by Royals in Rule 5
Rotowire
Sauer was selected by the Royals in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Sauer, 24, posted a 3.42 ERA and 83:29 K:BB over 68.1 innings at Double-A Somerset in 2023. The right-hander pitched in relief in the Arizona Fall League and it's not clear whether the Royals plan to use him as a starter or reliever.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Matt Sauer: Opens season on shelf
Rotowire
Sauer was placed on Double-A Somerset's 7-day injured list Thursday with a right forearm strain, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
Sauer didn't make any appearances after Aug. 31 of last season due to an undisclosed issue, which may have been the same forearm injury that is sidelining him to begin the 2023 campaign. The 23-year-old right-hander notably turned in 17- and 11-strikeout performances in two his four starts with Somerset in the second half of last season, but he was lit up when he wasn't making bats miss, as he finished with a 7.84 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and five home runs allowed over 20.2 innings with the Double-A club.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Matt Sauer: Racks up 17 K's in Double-A game
Rotowire
Sauer recorded 17 strikeouts over eight innings for Double-A Somerset in a game against New Hampshire on Thursday.
Sauer allowed just one run on two hits in the contest, though Somerset wasn't able to win. The right-hander's 17 punchouts were a Somerset franchise record and are the most by any major- or minor-league pitcher this season, per Eli Fishman of Pinstriped Pros. Sauer appears to have recently found another level of swing-and-miss stuff in his arsenal -- he registered a then season-best 11 strikeouts in his previous contest Aug. 19.
