Yankees Pitching To Be A Surprising Strength In 2015

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Bullpen Is One Of The Best In Baseball

There were many questions regarding the Yankees’ bullpen going into the 2014 season. The era of the great Mariano Rivera had come to an end, and no one was sure what to expect from his successor, David Robertson. Boone Logan left for Colorado and Joba Chamberlain signed with the Tigers. The team decided against signing a free agent closer despite many people seeing obvious fits in Grant Balfour and Joe Nathan.

But it all seem to come together and from the early going the Yankees relievers asserted themselves as a force. David Robertson proved to be superb, earning 39 saves along with a 3.08 ERA and 96 strikeouts. Former top starting pitching prospect Dellin Betances emerged from the monicker of failed prospect to morph himself into perhaps the most dominant reliever in baseball. In 2015 Robertson may not be there, as many are uncertain whether he’ll resign with the Yankees when he hits the open market this off-season. That would put Betances in the roll of closer and baseball will get a chance to see someone who could potentially be the best closer in the game.

Relief prospect Jacob Lindgren was a force out on the mound in the minors, and will likely be in the ‘pen at the start of the season. Shawn Kelley will likely return as a solid middle reliever and David Phelps will continue to be a versatile long man. Free agents like Sergio Romo, Jason Motte, and Andrew Miller among others could also find their way into pinstripes come 2015. The Yankees bullpen will continue to be a force going forward.