The New York Yankees officially announced Wednesday that they have signed RHP Darren O’Day to a one-year contract for 2021 with a player option for 2022, which becomes a team option if O’Day declines.
To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Ben Heller was designated for assignment.
O’Day, 38, was 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings over 19 relief appearances for the Braves in 2020. For his career, O’Day is 40-19 with a 2.51 ERA in 604 games over 13 seasons with the Angels, Mets, Rangers, Orioles, and Braves.
Per the Yankees, O’Day’s career 2.31 ERA is the fourth-lowest among qualified relievers since his 2008 debut, trailing only Craig Kimbrel (2.17), Aroldis Chapman (2.25) and Kenley Jansen (2.39).
The team did not release terms of the deal, but according to RADIO.COM Sports MLB insider Jon Heyman, it’s a $1.75 million deal for 2021, with a $1.4 million player option for 2022 that becomes a $3.15 million team option (with a $700,000 buyout) if he declines – meaning that O’Day will make, in real dollars, either $2.45 million (both decline option), $3.15 million (player option exercised), or $4.9 million (team option exercised).
Heller was acquired from Cleveland in the 2016 Andrew Miller deal. He pitched 31 1/3 innings over 31 games in parts of four seasons in pinstripes, missing all of 2018 and most of 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch