The Yankees have added another tier to the competition fighting for the final two spots in the starting rotation by adding lefty Jon Niese to the mix. Niese, who is 30, spent most of the 2016 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, went 8-6 with a 4.91 ERA in 23 games (18 starts) and finished the season back with the Mets, where he went 0-1 with an 11.45 ERA in six games.
Pending passage of a physical, which is not a given since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after making only two starts for the Mets, Niese will report to Tampa.