Should The New York Yankees Target Javy Guerra?

Mar 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher

(52) pitches the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

To make room on the 40-man-roster for utilityman Chone Figgins, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to designate Javy Guerra for assignment. The Dodgers had a full 40-man-roster and had kept older relievers like Jamey Wright and Brian Wilson. With some holes in the bullpen, should the Yankees make a play for Guerra?

You build bullpens young and on the cheap. Guerra isn’t even arbitration eligible yet. He’s also only 28-years-old. He’s saved 29 games in his career, including 21 back in 2011, so if something were to happen to David Robertson, he’s a good backup to have.  Guerra stayed in Triple-A Albuquerque last year saving 12 games and striking  out 36 in 39.1 innings. Righty or lefty doesn’t matter in his career, which is encouraging. Righties have hit .250 off him, while lefties have hit .251.

Guerra has a career WHIP of 1.39, which got a little inflated because of his struggles in just 13 games at the major league level. He also has a career 7.7 K/9 ratio.

He could easily fit in to the seventh or eighth inning role with the Yankees. He could take some of the pressure of Shawn Kelley and possibly Dellin Betances in the bullpen. If Andrew Bailey can come back healthy in August or September plus Guerra, Kelley and Betances, that’s a potentially lethal and relatively cheap combination from the right side of the bullpen.

The Yankees have an excellent opportunity to add to their bullpen for a relatively low cost. Whether they pull the trigger on it remains to be seen.