New York Yankees Rumors: Five impact relief options that are still available
After the New York Yankees successfully reset their luxury tax penalties last season, they were expected to spend a large amount of money this offseason. Although they have been able to re-sign three veteran players and trade for an impact starting pitcher, the organization has otherwise been relatively quiet.
To this point, the New York Yankees have dished out a one-year $7.50 million contract to Brett Gardner, a one-year $8.00 million contract to CC Sabathia, and a two-year $34.00 million contract to J.A. Happ with an option for a third season. Despite missing out on chances to add either Patrick Corbin or Nathan Eovaldi to the starting rotation next season, general manager Brian Cashman was still able to acquire James Paxton in trade with the Seattle Mariners.
Although the organization has been able to add three starting pitchers this offseason, they have not yet addressed their bullpen. Even though the Yankees inattention to reinforcing the bullpen is likely a result of focusing most of their recent time and effort on luring Manny Machado to the Bronx, the bullpen is a vital component of the team that should not be overlooked.
The Yankees currently have a great bullpen core already put together with Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, Dellin Betances, and Jonathan Holder under team control for next season. However, as the organization needed to ship out three prospects to acquire Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles last July due to health questions regarding Chapman, it is important to proactively strengthen the bullpen as solid options are currently available through free agency.
As the organization has seen the depth of its farm system dwindle due to numerous promotions and trades, it makes sense to think ahead in order to strengthen the bullpen with the current free agent class to avoid surrendering additional prospects down the road. Despite Andrew Miller, Joe Kelly, Joakim Soria, and Jeurys Familia already out of the free agent market, there are still plenty of solid relief options available. The following relievers are five potential options for the Yankees.
As the front office of the Yankees has shown an unwillingness to provide lengthy contracts to this point in the offseason, a former Orioles reliever may fit their short-term contract preference.
Brad Brach had a rough start to the regular season last year as he pitched to a 4.85 ERA and a 4.01 FIP through 42 relief appearances. During this time, he allowed 50 hits and 19 walks in 39.0 innings pitched which resulted in a dreadful 1.769 WHIP.
Although these numbers are not as impressive as the 2.61 ERA, 3.40 FIP, and 1.133 WHIP he put together through his first 179 career appearances with the Orioles, he definitely boosted his overall stock following a midseason trade to the Atlanta Braves. Through 27 appearances with the Braves, Brach compiled an impressive 1.52 ERA, 3.12 FIP, and 1.310 WHIP.
This late season performance improved his overall numbers to a 3.59 ERA, a 3.67 FIP, and a 1.596 WHIP through 69 appearances. As these numbers are not the elite numbers he has put up in the past, he may prefer to sign a short-term contract in order to rebuild his stock before returning to free agency once again.
Due to this, it makes sense for Brach to seek a one or two-year deal with a contending team. As MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Brach will sign a two-year, $12.0 million contract this offseason, the Yankees should take a chance on the All-Star reliever with plenty of successful late inning experience within the American League East division.
With Chapman already in the fold, it is unlikely that the Yankees will be in the market for an elite relief option such as Kimbrel. Nonetheless, there are plenty of relief options with late game experience still available.
Kelvin Herrera had a phenomenal start to the regular season last year as he pitched to a 1.05 ERA and a 2.69 FIP through 27 relief appearances. During this time, he only allowed 19 hits and 2 walks in 25.2 innings pitched to compile an incredible 0.818 WHIP.
Unfortunately for Herrera, he did not pitch as well following a midseason trade to the Washington Nationals. Throughout 21 relief appearances in the National League last season, he compiled a 4.34 ERA, a 5.68 FIP, and a 1.714 WHIP. Although Brach was able to improve his stock down the stretch with a solid performance for his new team, Herrera unfortunately saw his stock decrease down the stretch.
Nonetheless, as Herrera compiled a 2.86 ERA, a 3.19 FIP, and a 1.150 WHIP between 2011 and 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, it makes plenty of sense to take a chance on the soon-to-be 29-year-old relief pitcher. MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Herrera will sign a one-year, $8.0 million contract this offseason and that is a very likely outcome as he looks to rebuild his stock.
With 22 games of postseason experience (1.26 ERA/1.081 WHIP) and 60 career saves already under his belt, he would fit in perfectly alongside Green and Betances during the late innings in the Bronx. As he will be extremely motivated to raise his stock and once again return to free agency prior to reaching 30-years-old, a pricy one-year contract for Herrera is a risk worth taking.
Even though the Yankees may be unlikely to offer a three-year contract to a reliever this offseason, they should reconsider this stance when it comes to a very familiar relief option.
David Robertson recently completed his ninth consecutive season with at least 60 relief appearances and he has shown zero signs of slowing down his reliability. Through 69 appearances last season, he put together a solid 3.23 ERA, a 2.97 FIP, and a 1.033 WHIP.
As he holds a career 2.88 ERA, a 2.81 FIP, and a 1.145 WHIP, Robertson has been an extremely effective pitcher. Aside from putting up a 3.82 ERA during the first season of his current 60+ appearance streak, he has not had an ERA north of 3.47 in any of the last nine seasons.
Throughout his eleven year career, Robertson has also compiled 137 saves with 273 games finished. Combining this amount of late game experience with his 30 games of postseason experience (5-0 win-loss record) makes Robertson an extremely valuable set-up or closing option.
Robertson is currently representing himself in free agency without an agent and he is very likely to receive a three-year contract. MLB Trade Rumors also predicted that Robertson will sign a three-year, $33.0 million contract with the New York Mets this offseason.
Although this would be preferable to Yankees fans than seeing Robertson sign with the Boston Red Sox, the Mets recent signing of Familia may take them out of the running. Due to his lengthy track record of reliability and his lengthy track record of performing well in the clutch in the Bronx, the Yankees should be heavily attempting to retain his services this offseason.
Even though it would be a surprise for the Yankees to dish out a large contract for a closer to pitch in a seventh or eighth inning role, a familiar face is not out of the question to return to the Bronx.
Following a midseason trade to the Yankees, Zach Britton put together an impressive 2.88 ERA, a 4.08 FIP, and a 1.160 WHIP through 25.0 innings pitched. After a slow start to the season with the Orioles in which he compiled a 3.45 ERA, a 4.44 FIP, and a 1.340 WHIP, he was able to greatly improve his free agent stock during his time in the Bronx.
Even though Britton is one of the top closing options available this offseason, MLB Trade Rumors only predicted that he will receive a three-year, $33.0 million contract. Similar to Robertson, the Yankees should not have reservations about extending a three-year offer to the veteran reliever.
Despite a solid 3.00 ERA, a 3.83 FIP, and a 1.372 WHIP through 79 appearances between 2017 and 2018, Britton is only a few years removed from a string of incredible seasons in which he earned two All-Star appearances. Between 2015 and 2016, he compiled a phenomenal 1.22 ERA, a 1.97 FIP, and a 0.912 WHIP through 133 appearances.
As Britton was able to step up to the task of finishing games when Chapman was not available last season, he would provide a much-needed presence as a second lefty in the Yankees bullpen. Even though there are rumors that Britton may prefer to sign with a team that will give him an opportunity to be a full-time closer, he would likely be open to returning to a set-up role for a contending team with the right offer.
Despite an expectation of the following pitcher being able to receive a three-year contract this offseason, it may be possible to secure him on a two-year guarantee with an option for a third season.
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Adam Ottavino is a native of New York that is currently a free agent for the first time in his career. Although he put together an All-Star worthy season last year, his injury history alongside varying regular season and playoff results may prevent the reliever from receiving a three-year guarantee.
MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Ottavino will receive a three-year, $30.0 million contract this offseason, but the recent contract signed by Andrew Miller may be a better barometer for a contract. Miller recently signed a two-year contract with a club option for a third year that could vest based on games pitched between the 2019-20 seasons and this could be the framework for a contract with Ottavino.
Despite a 4.24 ERA, a 3.51 FIP, and a 1.382 WHIP through 34.0 innings pitched last season, Miller compiled a stellar 2.01 ERA, a 2.10 FIP, and a 0.892 WHIP as a reliever in 332.0 innings pitched between 2012-2017. On the flip side, Ottavino put together an impressive 2.43 ERA, a 2.74 FIP, and a 0.991 WHIP through 77.2 innings pitched last season while compiling a 3.65 ERA, a 3.59 FIP, and a 1.323 WHIP in 313.0 innings pitched between 2012-2017.
As these two veteran relievers have put together similar work loads and performances, a two-year contract with a club/vesting option for a third year now seems very likely for Ottavino this offseason. The Yankees recently dished out a contract with this type of structure to Happ and it would greatly benefit the team to obtain Ottavino in this same manner.
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To make his performance last season even more memorable, Ottavino struck out an incredible 112 batters in only 77.2 innings of work. Dellin Betances (115), Edwin Diaz (124), and Josh Hader (143) were the only three relievers with more strikeouts last season. As Green, Betances, and Chapman are known for their strikeout prowess, Ottavino would be a phenomenal addition for a team with their sights set on reaching the World Series next season.