Paul Blackburn showing why Yankees re-signed him:…
TAMPA — Paul Blackburn might be a cut price.
Blackburn, who was re-signed to a one-year, $2 million contract after becoming a member of the Yankees in August, appeared the half of a former All-Star while beginning and throwing 4 shutout innings in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Blackburn, 32, hasn’t allowed a run in six innings of spring work.
Paul Blackburn throws a pitch during warmups in his 4 shutout innings outing in the Yankees’ 5-1 spring training win over the Blue Jays on Feb. 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We feel like he’s in a really good place,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone said. “We have been hoping to get two or three innings out of him most likely and he was so environment friendly he ends up going 4 … [He] was wonderful, actually from the soar. Really crisp. Command was wonderful. I used to be actually happy. I believed his stuff appeared real sharp.
“He’s been an All-Star. This guy’s been a good starting pitcher. And he’s not old. You see him go out there and watch that, he’s carving out there. He’s in complete control of things, commanding the ball well. We brought him back for a reason.”
Blackburn supplied causes for optimism last season, but also supplied loads of evidence that a reunion might be a mistake.
Before the Mets launched him last 12 months, the right-hander posted a 6.85 ERA in seven appearances (4 begins).
Blackburn then took a beating in his Yankees debut — permitting seven runs in mop-up obligation — but shortly discovered his footing in the bullpen, posting a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in his next 12 innings (seven appearances), which he credit to decreasing his arm slot.
Paul Blackburn throws a pitch during his 4 shutout innings outing in the Yankees’ spring training win over the Blue Jays on Feb. 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I felt like I was fighting myself a lot,” Blackburn said Saturday. “I didn’t really feel like I used to be myself at all. In August, I type of said, ‘Screw it,’ and went back to how I used to be — more over the top, more making an attempt to drive the ball down. When I got here right here, I talked to the pitching guys and that’s where they need me. When I confirmed up right here, [I was] just getting a little more snug back in that arm slot I’ve always been in, just having the ability to get my pitches back to where they have been in earlier years, having the ability to transfer the ball around and roll good outings together.
“I’m not gonna throw gas by people, so I just gotta locate and change speeds.”
Boone envisions utilizing Blackburn “potentially [in] a lot of roles,” with the option to use him as a starter until his rotation is back at full strength.
But Blackburn’s best worth doubtless lies in the bullpen, filling that position in every look with the Yankees last 12 months. In his first eight seasons, Blackburn only labored in aid in 4 of 86 appearances.
“I think my time here last year definitely got me really familiar with it,” Blackburn said. “You had guys down there like Luke [Weaver] — I know he made that transition — and he helped a bunch, picking his brain about what he did. … The more I did it, the more comfortable I felt doing it.”
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