Yankees will add two of these relief pitchers before the All-Star Game

Isn’t Everyone Desperate to get out of Philadelphia?

The Phillies are, well, let’s just call it rebuilding and leave it at that. They are 26-51, which brings us to Pat Neshek. He is in the final year of a contract (originally signed with the Houston Astros) that pays him 6.5 million this year. That’s why the Phillies are desperate to get rid of him.

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Neshek, for his part, has only pitched to a 0.59 ERA in his 31 innings. That seems good. He has only given up 20 hits while collecting 29 strikeouts and has a 0.783 WHIP for the year. That’s why many teams will be desperate to acquire him. His one major drawback is that he is a strict one-inning arm, but that is better than the no-inning arms currently in the Yankees bullpen.

There is even a rumor the Phillies already have a standing offer for Pat. He knows he’s going to be traded and the Phillies know they are going to trade him; now, we just need to get the Yankees to be the one to trade for him.

The Once and Future Yankee

I am sure that the Detroit Tigers can also understand the meaning of their 35-43 record, fourth in the AL Central. And that means that Justin Wilson is likely on the block. Justin is another former Yankee who looks ready to wear the pinstripes again. He is having one of his best years, putting up a 2.76 ERA, 1.023 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in just 29 innings.

Making it more likely the Tigers will want to trade Wilson is his contract. He makes $2,700,000 this year but has only one more year before free agency. That’s a lot of money for a team going in the tank, especially for one that has never liked paying relievers a lot of money.

And, just as mentioned about some others, Wilson will never have a higher trade value. The Tigers 25th ranked farm system should also provide more impetus.

Justin Wilson might be moving back to the Bronx.

Seeing is Believing

Perhaps the Oakland Athletics will see their way to making a trade with the Yankees. They are 35-44, dead last in the AL West. And if I know Billy Bean, he just loves to trade for prospects. The only question is what he wants for Ryan Madson.

Madson is pitching well but is making a lot of money. His ERA is 2.35, his WHIP is 0.946, and he has struck out 31 batters in 30 innings.

Ryan is also making $7,666,666 this year and next. But that works for the Yankees. They want to keep their prospects, and the Athletics will want to shed salary.

And there will be far fewer suitors for Mr. Madson. Usually that would put him on a plane to New York. But his price tag might be too high for the cost-conscious Steinbrenners.

I would think the Yankees will split their resources, getting one or two players by taking on salary and another that will cost quality prospects. Drew Storen and Juan Nicasio look good for the first scenario. My guess at the reliever the Yankees will find worthy of trading serious picks for is Raisel Iglasias.

Next: The Yankees Draft Philosophy: Pitching is Destiny

Whoever the Yankees like best, however, will be evident and soon. Tomorrow is the first of July, and the Yankees will need to get serious about improving this team. So there will be trades, and there will be some new blood. And Yankees fans will be able to go back to feeling confident when a player comes out of the bullpen.

Which would be a nice change from how they feel when that bullpen door opens nowadays. And yes, expletives were deleted in the editing of that last sentence.