Michael Fulmer’s path back to the Yankees has landed in a place few would have predicted when he won Rookie of the Year in 2016. Nine years, six uniforms, and a lot of mileage later, his career may wind up ending in the Bronx after New York signed him to a major league deal on Wednesday.
Fulmer was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels last Sunday and released two days later. That opened the door for a quick return to New York, where the Yankees are trying to reinforce a bullpen that has been solid but could use more fresh arms.
Fulmer had been considering retirement, according to the New York Post’s Jared Schwartz, but he wasn’t ready to walk away. He told the Post, "I told my wife I couldn’t live with myself feeling this healthy and throwing the ball this well, to give up quite yet,” Fulmer told the Post. "Hope it’s an opportunity for something in the long run."
The Yankees didn’t waste much time finding out what he had left. After flying in that day, they sent him straight to the Bronx, where he was on the mound within hours against the Houston Astros. He delivered a clean inning and gave himself a real shot to stick.
Fulmer’s first test came against Yordan Alvarez, and it was no easy assignment. He finished him off with a sweeper at his feet on a 3-2 count for his first strikeout as a Yankee, then followed by inducing groundouts from Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve.
This season has already taken Fulmer from the Giants to the Angels and now to New York. He posted 3.2 scoreless innings for Los Angeles before the Angels cut him loose after signing him to a minor league deal on August 12.
Even with that short stay, there are signs he still has plenty to offer. In the minors in 2026, Fulmer logged 43 innings with a 2.93 ERA and held hitters to a .204 average. He struck out 28.9% of batters and walked 11.7%, while also limiting damage with an average exit velocity of 82.3 MPH, a 27.4% hard-hit rate, and a 5.7% barrel rate allowed.
That kind of profile is worth a look for a Yankees club that needs help in the bullpen and needs it now. David Bednar, Brent Headrick, and Paul Blackburn have carried much of the load this year, and New York is banking on Fulmer having enough left to lighten it as the 2026 season heads into its final stretch.
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