Yankees bullpen options need to be addressed soon

Last season, the Yankees had one of, if not the most feared bullpens in all of baseball. The ‘pen was lined with all-stars and flamethrowers, but a new year is coming, and the Yanks need to patch up what’s left of their relief corp.

The Yankees bullpen is still very good as it stands now; any ‘pen led by Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances is sure to stand a chance.

But the Yanks will likely lose two key relievers to free agency this offseason: 2018 trade deadline acquisition, Zach Britton and longtime Yankee, David Robertson — both of whom are top-tier relievers. I’d love to see the two of them return to the Bronx, but that may be pushing it.

Britton and Robertson are precisely what the Yanks’ bullpen is in need of; a reliever that can limit batters from getting on base while pitching exceptionally well against lefties and can deter baserunners from stealing (Britton more so than Robertson).

This “need” comes from a lack thereof in the current Yankee ‘pen. Sure they have hard-throwing strikeout machines in Betances and Chapman — and utility in the youthful pair of Domingo Germán and Jonathan Loaisiga. Plus the Bombers have three sound right-handers, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder, and Tommy Kahnle, who all fare better facing right-handed batters.

Naturally, the Yanks could look for new faces to fill their ‘pen, but why change what’s worked? Robertson and Britton have adapted to pitching in pinstripes, while many others have not.

Take a look at Sonny Gray, whose career took a turn for the worst since coming to the Bronx.

Britton, who turned 31 this past Saturday, and Robertson, who will be 34 next season, don’t have much potential to become notably better, but that’s fine seeing as they are already two of the most consistent relievers in baseball.

Therefore, the Bombers should look to sign one of the two, perhaps both, to shorter contracts, rather than the expensive and somewhat detestable long-term deals which pay players what they were worth in the prime of their careers.

If the Yanks choose to overlook Britton or Robertson, which I’d advise against, some other relievers could fill the few bullpen holes.

However, many of the other options aren’t that appealing. A shortlist of free agent relievers that fit the bill would include Cody Allen, Xavier Cedeño, Tyler Clippard, Jake Diekman, Greg Holland, Aaron Loup, Tony Sipp, and Justin Wilson.

Allen, the youngest of the bunch at 30, shows the lack of potential in the free agent market; but one of the better names, with Holland as his counterpart. Both would cost nearly the same as Robertson and Britton — and both are just as good.

But again, to swap Britton/Robertson for Allen/Holland would only be a marginal improvement at best, therefore, why not stick with what already works in New York?

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Sipp, who is the oldest on the list, will turn 36 midway through next season, leaving his future performances in question. The upside of Sipp would be his contract; possibly one super-affordable year. However, Sipp is not of the same caliber as Britton or Robertson. For that matter, no one else on this list is either.

Diekman and Loup are both coming off very poor campaigns, in which the two relievers were traded at the deadline to playoff contending teams. Nonetheless, Diekman and Loup provided little help to their new clubs.

The last three guys, Clippard, Cedeño, and Wilson all have sporadic quality seasons mixed in with some substandard seasons. And let’s not forget Clippard’s Yankee tenure, in which he received many a Bronx Cheer.

Yes, there are some “better” relievers on the market, other than Zach Britton and David Robertson, but these two have recognized what it takes to be part of a successful Yankee bullpen and has undoubtedly proven themselves as top class relievers.