The New York Yankees are searching for a bullpen upgrade. One place they could look is San Diego for lefty reliever Brad Hand.
A season that started off quite promising for the New York Yankees has quickly come off the tracks. Since the beginning of June, they are just 15-20. That slide has put them into second place and barely hanging on for an AL Wild Card spot.
Part of the issue has been the bullpen. Due to injuries and ineffectiveness, the Yankees are just 9-17 in one-run games. Part of that is luck, and part of that is due to a leaky bullpen. Aroldis Chapman and Adam Warren have missed time. Dellin Betances has had mechanical issues, but after his impressive outing yesterday, maybe it’s possible those are behind him. Tyler Clippard had an ERA over 11.00 in June, and July has actually begun worse with an ERA over 13.00.
The bullpen trade market is going to be much weaker compared to last season when the New York Yankees dealt Chapman and Andrew Miller. One potential trade target could be San Diego Padres reliever Brad Hand. Per the New York Post:
"Judging by the Padres sending David Post to watch the Yankees’ Triple-A club, there is a sense in the industry the Yankees are interested in left-handed reliever Brad Hand.Post, a special assistant to Padres general manager A.J. Preller, has been following Scranton/Wilkes-Barre."
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The Padres are looking for a Chapman-like return for their left-hander.
The Yankees have plenty of prospects the Padres could want, even at the levels below AAA. At AAA, the Yankees have Chance Adams, Miguel Andujar and Billy McKinney, who came in the Chapman deal last season.
If I am the Yankees though, I’m not sure I give up any big names of my prospect collateral for a reliever.
Hand is 2-4 with a 2.30 ERA. He’s struck out 60 in 47 innings.
If I am targeting a lefty reliever out of the Padres bullpen, it may be Ryan Buchter instead. He’s 3-3 with a 2.94 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. Lefties are hitting just .191 against him, while righties are hitting .215.
Next: Greg Bird unfair target of anonymous jab
Hand has better numbers and is the better reliever, but if I am the Yankees, I’d rather try and swing a deal for Buchter and not give up the farm.