Yankees acquire Mark Leiter Jr. from Cubs, deal Caleb Ferguson to Astros

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The New York Yankees acquired right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs on Tuesday to bolster their bullpen, sending right-hander Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles to Chicago.

Leiter’s father Mark made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1990 and his uncle Al pitched for the Yankees from 1987-99 and again in 2005.

New York also dealt left-hander Caleb Ferguson to Houston for minor league right-hander Kelly Austin and international signing bonus pool allocation.

Mark Leiter Jr., 33, is 2-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 39 relief appearances, striking out 53 in 36 1/3 innings, an average of 13.13 per nine innings. The Yankees have been searching to add swing-and-miss relievers to a bullpen that averaged 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings entering Tuesday, 17th among big league bullpens.

“More than anything, he’s a good pitcher,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. “He’s also thrown the ball really well the last month. We’re excited to get him, and I know he’s excited to get here.”

Boone said Leiter was on his way to Philadelphia and could be available for Tuesday night’s game, depending on his travel.

Leiter has allowed just three of 21 inherited runners to score and held batters to a .196 average.

He was on the injured list from June 23 to July 9 because of strained right forearm and has retired all 23 batters he faces since returning, striking out 14.

Leiter is signed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract. He is eligible for salary arbitration this winter and can become a free agent after the 2026 World Series.

The 24-year-old Cowles was hitting .294 with 25 doubles, nine homers and 51 RBIs for Double-A Somerset. A 10th-round draft pick in 2021 from Maryland, he signed for a $140,000 bonus.

Neely, also 24, is 1-1 with six saves and a 2.81 ERA for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Somerset this year. An 11th-round draft pick from Ohio State in 2021, he signed for a $150,000 bonus.

Acquired in February from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ferguson had a 5.13 ERA in 42 relief appearances, striking out 41 in 33 1/3 innings while going 1-3 with one save. Signed to a $2.4 million, one-year contract, Ferguson can become a free agent after the World Series.

The 23-year-old from UCLA had a 2.21 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 26 games at Class A this season. Bypassed in last year’s amateur draft, he signed for a $100,000 bonus.