Yankees Rumors: Exploring Joakim Soria as a relief option

With speculation of the Red Sox potentially signing both Zach Britton and David Robertson, the Yankees have begun looking at right-hander Joakim Soria as an alternative.

According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, the Yankees are just one of five clubs that have shown interest in 34-year-old relief pitcher, Joakim Soria.

"Source: The Dbacks, Angels, Yankees, Braves and Reds are among the teams that have shown interest in veteran reliever Joakim Soria. More talks are expected at next week’s Winter Meetings. Soria has been working out near his home in Scottsdale."

Soria, who spent last season with the White Sox before being traded to the Brewers at the deadline, compiled a 3-4 record, 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .225 BAA and uber-impressive 75:16 K:BB ratio across 60.2 innings. The 11-year veteran was also 16-for-21 in save opportunities in 2018.

However, the playoffs weren’t all that kind for Soria, as the two-time All-Star allowed four runs in 4.2 innings of work (seven appearances).

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Perhaps the Yankees’ interest is piqued by Soria’s ability to keep the ball in the yard. In 634.1 career innings, he’s allowed only 51 home runs while inducing ground balls 44.1 percent of the time.

On the back of his four-pitch arsenal, Soria mixes a 93-mph four-seam fastball, 88-mph changeup, 79-mph slider and 71-mph curveball to keep hitter’s off-balance. Though his days of blowing past hitters are likely over, Soria still generates a good amount of swings and misses with his sweeping slider and sharp curve.

Having made $9 million last season, most expect Soria to fall somewhere in the $7-9M range on a two-year deal. He’d be a competent, less expensive replacement for the soon-to-be 34-year-old Roberston, who is representing himself this winter.

Last week, George A. King III of the New York Post reported that although the Red Sox are indeed interested in Robertson, they would prefer to offer him a two-year deal.

"When asked about Robertson, who has a house in Rhode Island, landing a three-year deal with Boston, a person with knowledge of the situation replied, “The Red Sox are in for less.’’"

King also believes that a second reunion with the Yankees is “cloudy,” citing the fact that the Yanks let him leave after the 2014 season when he was still only 29.