Yankees Rumors: David Robertson says he’d like to return

Yankees relief pitcher David Robertson, who posted 3.23 ERA in 2018, would very much like to return to the club next season.

Former Yankees closer, David Robertson, who was drafted by the Yanks in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Alabama, first pitched for the Bombers from 2008-2014. As you may recall, Robertson was part of the 2009 World Series team.

The Yankees offered Robertson a $15.3 million qualifying offer in the winter of ’14, but he declined and became a free agent. That December, D-Rob was signed by the White Sox on a four-year, $46 million deal.

At the July 31, 2017 trade deadline, the Bombers acquired Robertson, Todd Frazier, and Tommy Kahnle from the Chicago for prospects Blake Rutherford, Ian Clarkin, Tito Polo and journeyman reliever Tyler Clippard.

Again, Robertson is a free agent, and Brendan Kuty of NJ.com reports that Robertson would like to return to the Yankees, but he wants to explore his options and see how the free agent market plays out.

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“Obviously, I’d like to think that,” he said, following the Yankees’ season-ending 4-3 loss to the Red Sox in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.“But I don’t know what’s going to happen the next few months. I’ll wait and see what happens. I’ll literally have to wait and see what happens. That’s the best I can tell you on that. I have to look out what’s best for me.”

From midseason 2017 through the end of the 2018 season with the Yanks, Robertson posted a 3.71 ERA, giving up 60 hits, nine home runs and 43 earned runs while striking out 142 opponents.

I would love to see Robertson back, but if he is commanding a hefty amount of money — something similar to his 2014 payday, he won’t be back.

Roberston, a traditional pillar of stability went 2.2 innings in ALDS Game 1 and Game 4 with a combined six strikeouts and one walk. Unfortunately, the Yanks lost both games as the Red Sox ended up advancing to the ALCS.

Left-handed reliever Zach Britton would also like to return to the Yanks, but only if the price is right. He is likely to seek closer-like money, and chances are the Yankees will be reluctant to do so since they already have the highest paid closer in the game in Aroldis Chapman, signed until 2021.

As I recently stated about Britton, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back, but he’d have to be like a seventh-inning arm — or at the most, a setup man. This offseason will be interesting to watch unfold, though, especially during the General Manager Winter Meetings.