Yankees Should Inquire About Free Agent Closer Greg Holland

By Mike Calendrillo | Oct 12, 2016

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Although Greg Holland hasn’t thrown a pitch since September of 2015, he could be an intriguing low-cost high reward bullpen arm for the Yankees.

The pending free agent market is ripe with three world-class closers in Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, and Mark Melancon. And yes, we already know the Yankees are in dire need of late-inning reinforcements. But with the budget constraints in the Bronx, will Brian Cashman be allowed to meet these All-Stars’ likely $12-16MM per season asking price?

I’d venture to say no. Honestly, I never thought I’d see the day where the Yankees shied away from signing reputable game changers because they refuse to allocate the necessary funds.

Now anything is possible, and if Cashman can work some magic and find a club willing to take on Brian McCann‘s contract, or Brett Gardner‘s, or Jacoby Ellsbury‘s (who am I kidding?) there could be a loophole to adding one of the “big three” free agent closers.

I broach this question–how about on top of clearing those contracts, the Yankees also take a chance on two-time All-Star Greg Holland?

Sure, he’s still working his way back from Tommy John surgery to repair a significant tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, but do you remember just how dominant the 30-year-old was for the Kansas City Royals from 2012 through most of 2015?

During that span, Holland amassed a 2.42 ERA with 12.1 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, and 145 saves in 319 2/3 innings. On top of that, the six-year veteran was absolutely dominant for the Royals in the 2014 Postseason, pitching 11 innings of one-run ball, notching a 15-to-5 K/BB ratio in that time.

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The skeptics will tell you that this was a long time ago in the lifespan of a big league pitcher. Maybe, but those incredible numbers when combined with the fact that scouts say Holland is already reaching the mid-90’s with his fastball, are two reasons as to why a team like the Yankees should take a good hard look at him.

How much would a guy with Holland’s pedigree look for on the open market? Well, his agent is Scott Boras, so that tells you negotiations won’t come easy.

But if Boras is smart, he look’s to place his client on a club that will give him the opportunity to ease himself back into a 9th inning role.

While Dellin Betances struggled mightily towards the end of the 2016 campaign, he still has a ton of upside. Whether that’s as a stopper or a closer remains to be seen–that’s why adding Holland in whichever role he’s more comfortable with to start 2017 makes total sense.

As his arm continues to strengthen during the season, his overall effectiveness would dictate in what inning manager Joe Girardi uses him. It also takes a ton of pressure off Betances–that if he were to falter again, Holland could pick up the slack until Betances finds himself.

The asking price for Holland’s services should be a lot more fluid than what any of the big three would want. The Yankees could offer an incentive-laden $5-8MM one-year deal, while also including a larger second-year player option, ala Brian Wilson with the Dodgers back in 2013.

Or the Yankees could go with two guaranteed years at $9MM per season, knowing that even if something drastic happened, delaying Holland from pitching during the early part of next season, they’d still have him locked up through 2018.

It’s not like the Yankees haven’t worked out this type of deal before. They’ve actually done it twice–first with David Aardsma, and then Andrew Bailey. While neither of those players panned out, it was a calculated gamble.

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Signing Holland is a risk worth taking. If he goes back to being the type of pitcher that finished second in the AL in saves in both 2013 and ’14, then the Yankees would kill two birds with one stone–shore up the ‘pen and save themselves some money.

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