With exactly one week until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, it still appears as though many teams are not done acquiring new pieces. One of these teams could very well be the New York Yankees.
While the Bronx Bombers have made several additions to the pitching staff already, the team may still look to add another relief arm before the season begins. With Randy Miller of NJ.com reporting that the team hasn’t even attempted to negotiate with Yankee lifer Brett Gardner, Brian Cashman & Co. will have more money to commit to another reliever.
Here are a few potential targets for the Yankees’ 2021 bullpen:
Trevor Rosenthal: Comeback Kid
Rosenthal is coming off a year for the ages. The 30-year-old righthander threw just 15 and 1/3 innings from 2017-2019, with a 5.86 ERA and an ERA+ of just 75. After signing with the Royals prior to 2020, the fireballer rebounded in a big way, posting a 3.29 ERA across 15 and 2/3 innings with Kansas City. He was traded to the Padres midseason, and didn’t allow a run in 10 regular-season innings.
Overall, Rosenthal had an ERA of 1.90, with a phenomenal ERA+ of 240. He ranked in the 99th percentile in xERA, xBA, strikeout percentage, and fastball velocity (according to Baseball Savant).
Sure, last year was just 60 games. But all of Rosenthal’s underlying metrics suggest that his success is legitimate and sustainable going forward. For the Yankees, the only deterrent here would be the cost. It is rumored that Rosenthal is seeking a 2-year deal, worth around $12 to $15 million.
As of right now, the Yankees have just under $10 million in financial breathing room before they would surpass the luxury tax. Theoretically, this would still work when you consider Rosenthal’s demands. $15 million across two years would be an AAV of $7.5 million. However, that would leave the Bombers with just $2 million before they hit the tax (according to Spotrac).
Cashman and Co. will likely prefer to have more financial flexibility heading into the season. This would allow the team to potentially make a move at the trade deadline, if need be.
But, while Rosenthal may not seem likely at the moment, time is running out on him. As I mentioned earlier, Spring Training starts on February 17th. The closer we get to the season beginning, the more likely it becomes that Rosenthal will be forced to settle for less than his asking price.
Tyler Clippard: The Yankee Clippard
Clippard is a player that Yankee fans will be familiar with. Originally drafted by the team, he made his MLB debut as a Bomber in 2007, and rejoined the team from 2016-2017. He has quietly carved out a very successful career, with a lifetime ERA of 3.13.
Over the last two seasons, Clippard has recorded an ERA of 2.86, with a corresponding ERA+ of 163. In 2020, he allowed a hard-hit percentage of just 27.9% (Baseball Savant). His hard-hit percentage has decreased in each of the last three years, as has his walk rate.
‘The Yankee Clippard’ (clever, right?) has maintained effectiveness by constantly tinkering with his repertoire. In 2013, Clippard was throwing his fastball nearly 60% of the time. Last season, just 18.3% of his pitches were the fastball. He introduced a sinker in 2019, and that has actually taken precedence over the 4-seamer.
Take a look at his pitch percentage chart to get a look at just how much he’s adjusted:
Clippard spent last season with the Twins, after signing a 1-year deal worth $2.75 million. Even if the Yankees were to offer a bit more money, anything in the ballpark of his previous contract would still leave the team with plenty of flexibility for a potential deadline deal.
This, combined with Clippard’s sustained success and former Yankee ties, make him the most likely option out of these three.
Shane Greene: Another Yankees Reunion?
Like Clippard, Greene is another pitcher who made his debut as a Yankee. He first appeared in the show during the 2014 season, and recorded a 3.79 ERA in 14 starts. However, the following offseason, he was a part of the three-team trade that resulted in Didi Gregorius ending up in pinstripes.
As a result, Greene found a new home in Detroit. He struggled as a starter in 2015, but found his long-term role after being shifted to the bullpen. Since 2017, Greene has recorded a 3.25 ERA, a 142 ERA+, and 9.1 strikeouts per 9 innings.
Greene allowed an xBA of .223 during the 2020 campaign, his lowest number since 2016. He also saw his hard-hit rate drop by nearly 6 percentage points from 2019 (Baseball Savant).
In 2019, Greene re-introduced a changeup to his arsenal, a pitch he hadn’t thrown in several years. Batters hit just .167 against the change in 2020, with an expected slugging percentage of only .239, according to Savant.
Last year, Greene made $6.25 million with the Braves. However, as we have seen throughout this offseason, the market is down, so the Yanks (or another team) could jump on him for less. Even so, a deal worth $6.25 million would still leave the Yankees with some breathing room in terms of the luxury tax.
State of the Yankees’ Bullpen
Despite several key contributors departing this offseason (Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino), the Yankees still boast one of the best bullpens in all of baseball.
The back-end duo of Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton is possibly the best setup-closing tandem in the league. Chad Green seems to have found his footing after a dreadful start to 2019, and can pitch in any spot. One of the new acquisitions, Darren O’Day, is a great veteran presence with an extremely impressive track record.
The question marks in the Yanks’ starting rotation are well-documented. So while the Bronx Bombers are already very strong on the back end, another relief acquisition could be a major difference-maker when the postseason rolls around.