The last season the Yankees bullpen turned their Achilles’ heel and this forced a disastrous ALCS rout against the Astros. Their general manager Brian Cashman now has a task in hand this offseason to look for players who can bolster their bullpen.
Brian Cashman, during his Covenant House Sleep Out charity for homeless people, admitted that the Yankees are looking for pitchers to strengthen the Yankees bullpen. He told:
“I’m looking to improve our bullpen. I believe we have a closer [Clay Holmes], but that doesn’t mean we can’t play on somebody who is a ‘closer,’ because ultimately, the more the merrier. We want as many high-leverage guys that you can collect as you possibly can. The bullpen’s an area we want to improve upon.”
During the regular season of baseball last year, the Yankees bullpen was one of the best in the league. Their closer was an All-Star. But injuries during the playoffs showed how weak it was, so the Yankees are looking for more relievers this offseason.
During the season, Holmes took over for an injured and struggling Aroldis Chapman as the Yankees’ closer. He got 20 saves in 25 chances, had a 2.54 ERA, and struck out 65 batters in 63 2/3 innings. But he missed time in August because his back hurt, and at the end of the regular season, he hurt his shoulder, which kept him from pitching as much in the playoffs, even though he was good. As the Yankees bullpen faltered, they ceded ground to the Astros.
Cashman said that Holmes is completely healthy, but he also said that the Yankees bullpen could still add another reliever who has closed games if they had the chance.
“I feel really good about Clay Holmes being our closer, but that doesn’t preclude us from entertaining any outside players via trade or free agency if it makes us better,” he told, “I’ve done that before. I remember I had Andrew Miller as our closer and then we traded for Aroldis Chapman. At the time, there was no perceived need for a closer, but there was an opportunity that presented itself. We’re always open-minded as we enter the process. So we’re here talking to clubs, talking to agents. Whatever shakes out of that over the course of time, we’ll see.”
The free-agent relievers’ market is now led by veteran closer Kenley Jansen, followed by a mix of former or part-time closers such as lefty Taylor Rogers, Craig Kimbrel, and Corey Knebel. Zack Britton has already expressed his interest in returning to the Yankees bullpen.
The top set-up men in the Yankees bullpen, besides Holmes, will be Jonathan Loaisiga and Wandy Peralta, who are both set to return. They would also benefit a lot from a healthy Michael King. After breaking his elbow in July, King just started a throwing program in Tampa. King was one of the best relievers in the game before he got hurt. It looks like the broken elbow didn’t hurt his ligaments, so he might be ready for Opening Day.
“We hope that,” Cashman told, “Let’s see how his program for throwing goes. If it takes longer, so be it, but when he’s right, he’s really, really good. It would be a wonderful gift to help him get well again.”
The Yankees bullpen will have to make up for the loss of Chad Green, who had Tommy John surgery in June and is now a free agent. Scott Effross, who they got at the trade deadline but will miss all of next season because he had also Tommy John surgery in October.
The Yankees bullpen didn’t do as well in the playoffs without them or Ron Marinaccio, who was out with a shin injury. Aaron Boone only trusted Holmes, Loaisiga, and Peralta and had to rely on Lou Trivino and Clarke Schmidt in some important situations, which did not work out well.
Who do you think the Yankees will add to their bullpen? Leave a comment below.
