With the trade deadline a month away, the Yankees’ biggest concern is their bullpen.
The team also has questions marks at second base and on the corners of their infield. However, Gleyber Torres has played well since his recent benching, DJ LeMahieu is finally hitting for extra bases, and Ben Rice has been solid since making his debut. Even if all that were not the case, the bullpen would still be the Yankees’ most pressing issue.
Yankees relievers have a 3.68 ERA this season. However, that number has inflated to 4.35 since the start of May and 5.10 since the start of June. Meanwhile, a bullpen filled with groundball specialists has had trouble striking batters out all season. The unit’s 21.9 K% ranks 25th in the majors.
As a result of recent struggles, the Yankees’ bullpen has been a revolving door, shuffling names like Phil Bickford, Yoendrys Gómez, Victor González and Clayton Andrews in and/or out in recent weeks.
The shuffling and poor numbers have made it clear that the Yankees’ pen is in need of a makeover before the trade deadline. Before we look at how the club could pull that off, here’s a look at the team’s current collection of relievers:
- Clay Holmes (CL)
- Luke Weaver
- Tommy Kahnle
- Caleb Ferguson (L)
- Michael Tonkin
- Tim Hill (L)
- Jake Cousins
- Josh Maciejewski
The Injured and Optionable
Three injured Yankees relievers, Ian Hamilton, Nick Burdi and Scott Effross, have minor league options.
Hamilton (lat) has been disappointing this season, recording a 4.55 ERA following a breakout 2023 campaign. He has not started throwing and can be optioned if needed at the end of his rehab assignment, so we’re not going to factor him in yet.
Burdi (hip) is injury-prone, but he possesses the strikeout stuff that the bullpen needs. He has begun throwing live BP and hoped to get into rehab games before the All-Star break. Effross is coming off back and Tommy John surgeries, so expectations should be managed. Still, he’s an upgrade.
Aaron Boone recently said that Effross could be an option in “the coming weeks” after his rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A. He and Burdi can replace Cousins and Maciejewski, or any other Scranton Shuttle/waiver wire types the Yankees add in the meantime.
Here’s what we’re working with after those potential moves:
- Clay Holmes (CL)
- Luke Weaver
- Tommy Kahnle
- Caleb Ferguson (L)
- Michael Tonkin
- Tim Hill (L)
- Nick Burdi
- Scott Effross
Trades
The Yankees cannot just rely on relievers getting healthy and pretend they’re deadline deals. They have to actually make some trades.
The Marlins’ Tanner Scott would be an excellent addition, as he has a 1.50 ERA, closing experience and a Whiff% (31.7) in the 90th percentile. A left-hander, he could take Hill’s spot in the pen while serving as the Robin to Holmes’ right-handed, groundball-inducing Batman. Scott is an impending free agent, so he shouldn’t cost an obscene amount, though he will have multiple suitors.
Oakland’s Lucas Erceg could fetch a bit more – though not as much as teammate Mason Miller – as he won’t be a free agent until 2030. The righty has a 3.41 ERA, a Whiff% (32.5) is in the 93rd percentile, and a fastball (98.5 mph) is in the 98th percentile. Erceg’s 27.6 K% is higher than Scott’s 25.7%, too.
Erceg could take Ferguson’s spot in the pen, as the impending free agent has struggled in his first year with the Yankees.
Scott and Erceg both have strikeout stuff, but they also have strong groundball rates. The Yankees appreciate in a relief pitcher.
Here’s what we’re looking at now:
- Clay Holmes (CL)
- Tanner Scott (L)
- Luke Weaver
- Lucas Erceg
- Tommy Kahnle
- Michael Tonkin
- Nick Burdi
- Scott Effross
Keeping in mind that not many teams are obvious sellers yet, here are some other names the Yankees could target in trades: Michael Kopech, RHP, White Sox | John Brebbia, RHP, White Sox |Carlos Estévez, RHP, Angels | Luis García, RHP, Angels | Kyle Finnegan, RHP, Nationals | Andrew Nardi, LHP, Marlins
Contingency Plans
On paper, this is a much better bullpen than what the Yankees have now, even if it has one less lefty.
However, there are still come concerns within this group. For one, Burdi and Kahnle are ticking time bombs on the injury front. There’s also no precedent for Tonkin’s run of excellence.
Fortunately for the Yankees, they should have some internal options if contingencies are needed after the trade deadline.
RHP Ian Hamilton: As mentioned, Hamilton hasn’t been as dependable this season, and he’s also had a tough time staying healthy. However, Boone has shown trust in him, and he’s tested in high-leverage situations.
RHP Ron Marinaccio: Because he is optionable, Marinaccio has gone back and forth between the majors and minors this season. His overall numbers have been good, but he struggled during his last stint with the Yankees.
RHP Jack Neely: Armed with a high-90s fastball and a sharp slider, Neely believed his power stuff was ready for the majors while he was still at Double-A. After a recent promotion to Triple-A, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make his big league debut this season, as he’s already on Matt Blake’s radar.
RHP JT Brubaker: Acquired from the Pirates earlier this season, Brubaker recently had his Tommy John rehab assignment moved to Double-A Somerset. A starter throughout his career, the Yankees could use him in a variety of relief roles.
RHP Clarke Schmidt: Schmidt was working on an All-Star caliber season before suffering a lat injury, but there may not be a spot in the rotation for him when he returns, which won’t be for a while. However, Schmidt has bullpen experience and could be a relief weapon if the rest of the Yankees’ rotation stays healthy.
RHP Luis Gil: With so much talk surrounding Gil’s workload, there’s been plenty of speculation that the starter could end up in the bullpen. His electric fastball and high strikeout rates certainly fit what the Yankees need, but the team has yet to indicate that a move is imminent.
