Yankees should explore deal to add reliever(s) from San Francisco Giants

With Dellin Betances not returning anytime soon due to a recently diagnosed low-grade lat strain, the Yankees may need some reinforcements in the bullpen. Due to their current place in the standings, the San Francisco Giants may be just the team to provide a suitable reliever or two.

The Yankees and Giants have been connected in trade rumors of late in regards to Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner. While this is certainly a realistic possibility, it may not be a bad idea to explore trading for one (or two) of the bullpen arms that the Giants have to offer.

As expected, San Francisco hasn’t been very good so far during the 2019 season. As of June 14th, the Giants are 28-38 – dead last in the NL West and the second-worst record in the NL besides the Miami Marlins (24-42).

On the Yankees front, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com provided the latest about righty Dellin Betances on Tuesday:

Long story short: Betances isn’t returning any time soon.

If there are any positives to this down year for the Giants, it’s the success of their relievers. The San Francisco bullpen currently owns a 3.78 ERA – the fifth lowest in all of baseball. With the Giants most likely out of contention, it can’t be hard to imagine that the team would be willing to sell their ‘pen arms, included or not in any Bumgarner deal.

Here are some of the potential arms that could be of interest to the Yankees.

Definitely a wild card and mostly an unknown name, there’s one reason why the Yankees could pursue Reyes Moronta: he strikes out A LOT of batters.

In fact, the righty has recorded13.2 K/9 which is tied for 13th in all of Major League Baseball. Moronta really came into his own last season with the Giants:

• 2018: 69 G, 65.0 IP, 2.49 ERA, 34 H, 20 R (18 ER), 79 K, 10.9 K/9
• 2019: 26 G, 28.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, 21 H, 10 R (10 ER), 42 K, 13.2 K/9

The 26-year old’s fastball averages 97.1 miles per hour, so that is certainly a reason for his success via the strikeout. The one downside for the right-hander is that he has allowed 5.65 B/9 (the 17th most in the Majors).

Moronta reminds me of Tommy Kahnle in a sense as both are flamethrowing right-handers. Kahnle was seen as a “throw-in” during the 2017 trade that bought him to New York alongside David Robertson and Todd Frazier. He’s now the only guy from that trade who’s still on the Yankees and he’s thriving as one of their high leverage relievers.

If New York can convince the Giants to include Moronta in a trade involving Madison Bumgarner, he could be a solid piece in the ‘pen for the Yankees.

By far the most dominant reliever in the Giants’ bullpen, Will Smith is well on his way to earning a spot in the All-Star Game this year. However, it may or may not be with the National League if he gets dealt prior to July 9th.

The lefty has pitched in 27 games in 2019 with a 2.03 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP across 26.2 innings pitched. Additionally, Smith has a ridiculous 38/6 K/BB ratio this season and has compiled 16 saves (tied for seventh in the Majors). The lefty has a 1.0 WAR thus far into the season – tied for ninth in baseball among qualified relievers.

Having pitched in Oracle Park -widely considered a pitchers ballpark- you would expect Smith to have better numbers at home. However, that’s not necessarily the case this season:

• Home (2019): 16 G, 11 H, 4 R, 21/4 K/BB, .193/.246/.246, .306 BABIP
• Away (2019): 11 G, 3 H, 2 R, 17/2 K/BB, .086/.135/.286, .063 BABIP

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Interpret this any way you want, but Smith has been money on the road even when pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark at home. One point of concern is that the 29-year old had Tommy John Surgery and missed all of the 2017 season. However, he seems well past the injury based on his success in 2018 and so far in 2019.

Smith would be a rental if traded since he’s a free agent after this season which makes him even more attractive to teams looking to acquire him. He’s going to be the most sought after reliever on the Giants in the coming weeks but if the Yankees can add him he could be a huge difference maker at the back end of their pen.

Tony Watson has been extremely efficient thus far for the Giants this season. The lefty has appeared in 29 games with a 2.70 ERA across 26.2 innings pitched.

The 2014 All-Star is currently in the second year of a two-year, $7 million deal with a player option for 2020. He would only be owed $2.5 million for next season, which is a bargain considering what reliable relievers are getting paid in today’s market.

What stands out most about Watson is how few walks he allows. The 34-year old has only walked 1.01 batters per nine innings pitched – the third best in all of Major League Baseball among qualified relievers.

Watson is capable of retiring both lefties and righties, but has oddly struggled against left-handed hitting opponents this season despite a smaller sample size:

• vs. RHB (2019): 79 PA, 17 H, 5 R, 17 K, .230 Opp. BA
• vs. LHB (2019): 32 PA, 10 H, 6 R, 5 K, .313 Opp. BA
• vs. RHB (Career): 1428 PA, 288 H, 149 R, 314 K, .226 Opp. BA
• vs. LHB (Career): 774 PA, 158 H, 67 R, 178 K, .223 Opp. BA

Although his .313 opponent batting average against left-handers this season is a bit worrisome, Watson has proven in the past that he is not just a lefty specialist.

Watson certainly isn’t as recognizable in regards to potentially available left-handed relievers such as Brad Hand, Sean Doolittle, or teammate Will Smith, but he could be had without giving up big-name prospects or acquiring a large contract.