ESPN: The Yankees veteran prospect signed a blockbuster deal with the Dodgers.
In October, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees. They are now spending on a former Yankees prospect less than two months later. Additional news: The GM of the Yankees Verifies Interest in the Next Big Free Agent According to Newsweek Sports, Matt Sauer, a pitcher who struggled after making his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals last season, has agreed to a minor league contract with Los Angeles that includes a non-roster invitation to spring training. The first person to disclose the agreement on Twitter/X was ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
In 2019, MLB Pipeline ranked Sauer as the 17th best prospect in the New York Yankees’ system, ahead of players like Thairo Estrada (No. 19) and just behind seasoned big leaguers Michael King (No. 12), Luis Gil (No. 13), and Garrett Whitlock (No. 16). Sauer was originally selected by New York in the second round of the 2019 draft out of high school.
Sauer was chosen in the Rule 5 draft by the Kansas City Royals following a successful minor league campaign in 2023. Last year, the right-hander went straight from Double-A to the major leagues with Kansas City, and on March 31, he made his big league debut with the Royals. Sauer pitched 16.1 innings in 14 appearances out of the Royals’ bullpen, recording a 7.71 ERA with just nine strikeouts and 11 walks. In May, the Royals allowed him to return to the minor leagues by sending him back to the Yankees under the conditions of the Rule 5 draft.
Sauer alternated between the Double-A and Triple-A levels of the Yankees throughout the season. He posted a 2.63 ERA and an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 21 to 3 in 24 innings while pitching for Double-A Somerset. But in little action, Sauer was unable to handle Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hitting. He allowed 15 runs in 8.1 innings while going 1-2 with a 16.20 ERA. He gave up 18 hits and eight walks while striking out nine, demonstrating his lack of command once more. In July, the Yankees demoted him to Somerset as a result.
