On January 11, 2017, the Mariners traded Yarbrough, Mallex Smith, and Carlos Vargas to the Tampa Bay Rays for Drew Smyly.[8] He spent the season with the Durham Bulls where he pitched to a 13–6 record and 3.43 ERA in 26 starts.[9] The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[10]
Yarbrough made the Rays' Opening Day roster in 2018,[11] making his debut against the Boston Red Sox on March 31, pitching four innings, allowing one run and recording three strikeouts. His first MLB strikeout was of Brock Holt.[12] Yarbrough finished the season with 16 wins, the most for a rookie in franchise history, the most for a rookie in the 2018 season, and the second-most on the team.[13] He finished his rookie season posting an earned run average of 3.91 over 141+1⁄3 innings despite working predominantly out of the bullpen.[14] Yarbrough was mainly utilized as the "bulk guy" behind the Rays' new opener strategy.[15]
On April 24, 2019, Yarbrough was optioned to Triple-A after registering an ERA of 8.10 in his first five appearances of the season.[16] He rejoined the major league team on May 23.[17] On July 14, 2019 against the Baltimore Orioles, after Ryne Stanek opened with two perfect innings, Yarbrough then pitched six perfect innings of his own, losing the combined perfect game bid to a leadoff single in the ninth inning.[18] His run of success continued in the season's second half, as he improved his ERA to 3.51 and his WHIP to 0.88 by September 10, which would have been second-best in MLB among starting pitchers if Yarbrough pitched enough innings to qualify.[19] He struggled in his last few starts and finished the season 11–6 with a 4.13 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 117 strikeouts over 141+2⁄3 innings.[14] He pitched three scoreless innings as a reliever in the American League (AL) Division Series against the Houston Astros.[20]
Due to many injuries to their pitching staff to begin the 2020 season, Yarbrough was used exclusively in the rotation before suffering a groin injury and beingplaced on the disabled list on August 29, 2020.[21][22] For the season, he was 1-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 11 games,[14] while leading the AL in hit batsmen, with seven.[23] He pitched five innings in Game 4 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees, allowing two runs on six hits[24] and started the third game of the AL Championship Series, picking up the win.[25] In the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yarbrough pitched in three games, starting one of them, and allowed two earned runs on seven hits in 4+2⁄3 innings.[26]
On June 3, 2021, Yarbrough threw a complete game victory against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, which was the first Rays complete game since Matt Andriese threw one in May 2016. The five-year drought was the longest in the league. It was also Yarbrough's first win as a starter since he pitched into the ninth inning against the Mariners at Safeco Field in 2019, as well as his first career complete game.[27] For the season he was 9–7 with a 5.11 ERA in 30 games (21 starts).[14]
Yarbrough made 30 appearances (nine starts) in 2022 for the Rays, with a 3–8 record and 4.50 ERA.[14] Following the season, on November 15, the Rays designated him for assignment[28] and he was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 18.[29]
Kansas City Royals
On December 13, 2022, Yarbrough signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Kansas City Royals.[30] In a May 7, 2023 game against the Oakland Athletics, he was struck in the head by a 106-mph line drive off the bat of Ryan Noda.[31] He was later diagnosed with multiple non-displaced fractures around his right eye and placed on the injured list.[32] He did not rejoing the active roster until July 9.[33] Yarbrough pitched in 14 games, making seven starts for the Royals with a 4–5 record and 4.24 ERA in 51 innings.[14]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On August 1, 2023, Yarbrough was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa.[34] He pitched in 11 games (two starts), compiling a 4–2 record and 4.89 ERA with 38 strikeouts.[14] Yarbrough agreed to a $3.9 million contract with the Dodgers for 2024 in salary arbitration.[35] In 32 games, he was 4–2 with a 3.74 ERA and 39 strikeouts.[14] Yarbrough was designated for assignment on July 29, 2024.[36]
Toronto Blue Jays
On July 30, 2024, the Dodgers traded Yarbrough to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Kevin Kiermaier.[37] In 12 appearances for Toronto, Yarbrough logged a 1-0 record and 2.01 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 31+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On February 20, 2025, Yarbrough re-signed with the Blue Jays organization on a minor league contract.[38]
Personal life
Yarbrough and his wife, Nicole were married in 2019 and had their first child, a daughter, in 2021.[39] A second daughter was born in 2023.[40]
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