Yankees and Orioles Eye Waiver Pickups to Bolster Stretch-Run Rosters
Yankees and Orioles waiver pickups are in focus as both American League East teams position themselves to add depth for the postseason push by pursuing two players recently placed on outright waivers. The moves involve a veteran position player from the New York Mets and a reliable reliever from the Kansas City Royals, both of whom would be postseason-eligible if claimed and if their new clubs qualify.
AL East clubs pursue waiver additions
The New York Mets and Kansas City Royals placed the two players on outright waivers, creating an opportunity for clubs across Major League Baseball to claim them. American League East contenders — notably the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles — have been linked to the moves as they look to reinforce rosters for the stretch run.
Both players bring different skill sets: one is a right-handed veteran who offers power and occasional speed, while the other is a right-handed reliever with several seasons of dependable bullpen work. Teams weighing claims will consider roster fit, remaining salary obligations and postseason eligibility before making a decision.
Robert’s season: injuries, numbers and late surge
The position player landed with the Mets via an offseason trade out of Chicago but has struggled to find consistent form this year, hampered by injuries and uneven results. Across 56 games he has produced a .229 batting average with a .310 on-base percentage and a .410 slugging percentage, totaling 10 home runs and two stolen bases.
Despite a disappointing overall line, the veteran has shown significant signs of life recently, hitting six homers and posting a 1.015 OPS over his last 17 games. That late offensive uptick is likely the chief reason teams in contention are willing to take on his remaining salary and potential 2027 option.
Contract details that affect decision-making
From a financial standpoint, the position player carries a guaranteed salary of just over $5 million for the rest of the season and has a $20-million option for 2027. Those figures make any claim a decision that blends on-field contribution with short-term budget considerations.
Rival clubs will weigh the immediate benefit of his recent power surge against the risk that injuries and inconsistency could return. For contenders near the postseason cutoff, the ability to add a right-handed bat with pop can be decisive, particularly against left-handed pitching or in pinch-hitting situations.
Schreiber’s bullpen résumé and recent performance
The reliever from Kansas City has been one of the more consistent middle-innings options on the market, carrying a 3.65 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 49.1 innings this season. The 32-year-old right-hander has delivered steady work over the past five campaigns, providing teams with innings and reliability out of the pen.
Since 2022 he has thrown at least 45 innings each season and his ERA in those years has never climbed above 3.86, a track record that should appeal to clubs seeking late-inning depth. He is set to become a free agent after the season if unclaimed, which factors into the calculus for clubs deciding whether to expend a waiver claim.
Postseason eligibility and strategic considerations
Both players would be eligible for postseason rosters if claimed and if their new teams secure a playoff berth, making them attractive short-term pickups for clubs on the bubble. For the Yankees and Orioles, the ability to add a bat or a bullpen arm without sacrificing long-term assets can be an efficient way to address specific weaknesses.
General managers must also consider service time rules and the mechanics of adding claimed players to a 40-man roster, as well as how either addition affects clubhouse dynamics and late-season roster flexibility. The cost of absorbing salary or losing a potential waiver claim to another contender are part of a delicate late-August strategy.
How the additions could shift the AL East race
If either club completes a claim, the immediate impact would likely be situational rather than transformational, but situational upgrades can swing close playoff races. A short-term offensive boost or a steady reliever can preserve leads, bridge to the late innings, and buy a frontline arm extra rest during September.
For the Yankees, adding a right-handed bat with recent power could address matchup issues and deepen bench options for October. For the Orioles, a dependable bullpen arm would shore up middle relief and allow primary setup pieces to see more favorable matchups in high-leverage innings.
Both clubs will have to balance the potential on-field benefits against payroll and roster constraints, but the proximity of the postseason makes marginal gains more valuable than at any other point in the season.
As September approaches and postseason rosters come into sharper focus, decisions on these waiver-eligible players will offer a window into how aggressively contenders intend to pursue short-term upgrades while protecting long-term flexibility.
