The one silver lining of the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes failure is that the New York Yankees have money to spend on fallback options this off-season. A lot of top-notch talents are still available, given the Bronx Bombers have the guts and swiftness to make a move. Besides starters, the team also needs bullpen reinforcements.
Earlier this month, the Yankees parted with multiple high-end relievers to land Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo via trade deals. Thus, the team needs reinforcements to bolster the pitching depth. Meanwhile, the MLB Network’s Jon Morosi recently linked the team to the most sought-after relief pitcher of this year’s free agency.
Yankees Could Use Surplus Money To Land LHP Josh Hader!
As the MLB offseason heats up, the New York Yankees have emerged as serious contenders in the pursuit of superstar fireballer Josh Hader in free agency. The left-handed relief pitcher has become a highly sought-after asset after a spectacular season that showcased his prowess on the mound. In 2023, Hader posted a 1.28 ERA across 61 games. With that, he earned his fifth career all-star appearance. Having said that, despite exciting numbers, the Padres didn’t retain him. Thus, Hader is now an unrestricted free agent. The allure of Josh Hader lies in his ability to overpower hitters with an elite fastball that regularly touches triple digits on the radar gun.
Combined with a devastating slider and an evolving changeup, Hader keeps batters guessing. His knack for collecting strikeouts at an impressive rate has solidified his reputation as one of the most dominant relievers in the modern era. On the other hand, for the New York Yankees, Josh Hader could be a perfect replacement for Michael King. After King was traded to the Padres for Juan Soto, the Yanks are missing a leader in the pen. Hader, with his extensive experience and form, could act as a like-for-like replacement. However, Hader certainly won’t come cheap. As per MLB projections, the pitcher could end up being the most expensive reliever this off-season. Regardless, the Bronx Bombers have enough money that they saved by refusing Yamamoto a $325 million contract. Hader will turn 30 next year and is surely worth the investment.
Yanks Add Pitching Depth In Latest Trade Move!
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees added a starting pitching option via a splash trade move. On Tuesday, the club officially announced the acquisition of RHP Cody Morris from Cleveland Guardians. In exchange, the team parted with former top outfield prospect Estevan Florial. Estevan, who joined the Yanks back in 2015, remained the top prospect of the club’s extensive farm system.
However, as years passed by, Estevan Florial kind of fell off the bandwagon. He failed to live up to his potential as a hitter. Moreover, last season, the Yankees dropped him off the 40-man roster, which delayed his major league promotion. Yet, defying the odds, Florial returned to the major league’s scheme of things. But then again, the former prospect didn’t leave an impact big enough to encourage the Yanks to opt for an extension.
