The New York Yankees are desperate to find balance in their bullpen. Prior to the offseason, the NY side did not have this problem. They were well set with the group of pitchers and catchers they had before. In fact, the Bronx Bombers used them to trade for the outfielders they were looking for this offseason. But the problem is rising since the Yankees traded a lot of pitchers and catchers to secure Juan Soto’s deal as well as that of Alex Verdugo. Currently, the 27-time champions are dealing with a worsening pitching situation. The biggest setback was losing the Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That would solve the NY side’s issue with their starting pitching lineup. Gerrit Cole, along with Yamamoto, would have been a great duo. But now, the Yankees are trying to seal a deal with the free agents available at present. Moreover, they might plan to have a reunion with Jordan Montgomery. He just won the World Series with the Texas Rangers. Otherwise, Blake Snell is currently the best option available for a starting pitcher. However, the Yankees might even sign Josh Hader from the San Diego Padres.
Can Josh Hader Solve The Pitching Problem For The Yankees?
Hader has been a three-time Reliever of the Year winner in the National League. Last year, he had a pretty dominant season for the SD side. Albeit, he’s not a starter the Yankees have been looking for. But he’s indeed a pretty good closer who can bolster any team’s bullpen. Moreover, the Bronx Bombers is looking for a strong, dependable pitcher at present. Carlos Rodon had a disappointing season in 2023. But Hader ranks within the 1% of pitchers in the league with a strikeout rate of 36.8%. The Yankees might look for a different approach than a traditional one.
They can look for someone like Hader, who can add one or two high-leverage arms. In the process, they might minimize the value of their starters and go deep into outings, shortening the games. Hader is the perfect guy to help the Pinstripes get there. People often consider this 29-year-old to be the league’s top reliever. If the Bronx strikes out at the top of the free agency market, they can turn to options like Brandon Woodruff or even Hyun Jin Ryu.
The NY Side Solved The Problem Of Their Weak Outfield And Recently, Added A New RHP
As per Field Level Media, on Friday, the Yankees signed Cody Poteet, the right-handed pitcher, for a year. He’s 29 years old but only 19 games of MLB experience. Poteet played for the Miami Marlins back in 2021 and 2022. He had a Tommy John Surgery and later had a minor league appearance for Kansas City Royals last year. Moreover, the Marlins drafted him in the fourth round back in 2015. With the Marlins, Poteet has a 2-4 record with 53 strikeouts and 4.45 ERA, including nine starts. Moreover, the Pinstripes needed outfielders more than pitchers. The 2023 season ended with a lot of concerns for the Bronx Bombers on their roster.
Most importantly, the weak offense was bothering them the most. They had the second-worst batting average in the league last season. Hence, they needed some good outfielders who could boost their offense. Eventually, the Yankees got Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres and Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox. On top of that, Trent Grisham came along with the Juan Soto’s deal. Hence, the Bronx Bombers now look pretty good at their offense and outfield. Any franchise with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in their lineup has an added advantage with their offense.