New York Yankees Rumors: Righty Relief Needed?

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher John Axford (66) throws the ball in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Rockies won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

John Axford

The ex-Yankee farmhand could be an option for the Yankees to acquire if the Rockies sell. The Rockies currently sit in last place and six games out. One of their issues hasn’t been their closer that they got on the cheap in the off-season.

Axford is pitching at a level this year he hasn’t hit since 2011.

He’s only struck out 12 in 16 innings, but has only given up 11 hits and walked six.

Opponents are hitting just .186 with a .234 BABIP.

He, like Hoover, is benefiting from an increase in a groundball rate, as opponents are keeping the ball on the ground 55% of the time.

He’s keeping his flyball rate under 30% for the first time since 2012.

If you’re not going to blow away hitters at Yankee Stadium, you better keep the ball on the ground. The same thing applies at Coors Field.

If the Yankees don’t want to go internal for their right handed relief, any of the five aforementioned options could help boost what could be the strength of the club.

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