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Former Yankee Keynan Middleton agrees to deal with Cardinals

Another relief pitcher has come off the market.

Former Yankee Keynan Middleton agreed to a deal with the Cardinals on Thursday night, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed.

Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

The Yankees picked up Middleton at the Aug. 1 trade deadline with the White Sox last year, and he provided solid stuff out of the bullpen with a 1.88 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings in The Bronx.

Middleton, 30, was a Statcast darling last season, ranking in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity against and in the 96th for whiff rate.

In October, Middleton told The Post he was open to a reunion with the Yankees.

“Honestly, there’s not too many other places I’m looking at,” Middleton said. “After being here, I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to be here. If it ends up working out, I’d love to come back here. But we’ll see what happens.


New York Yankees relief pitcher Keynan Middleton #93 throwing a pitch during the fourth inning of Washington Nationals vs. New York Yankees game.
Keynan Middleton pitched for the Yankees last season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“There’s other guys around here — Gerrit Cole, Clay Holmes, Michael King — it’s just pure greatness. Being around these guys and being able to learn from them has been huge for me.”

The Post’s Jon Heyman reported last week that the Yankees had been making low offers to relievers and could look toward Middleton to fill a hole.

But now, the Yankees will have to look elsewhere.


New York Yankees relief pitcher Keynan Middleton throwing to Houston Astros in 8th inning at Yankee Stadium on August 6, 2023.
Keynan Middleton is now headed to the Cardinals on a new deal. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

The Yankees expressed some interest in bringing back lefty Wandy Peralta back, but he bolted to San Diego in a deal with the Padres.

The Bombers did, however, bring in Matt Gage after claiming him off waivers.

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