Yankees: Five moves they should attempt to make during the Winter Meetings

Sign Joe Smith, Dellin Betances, or Blake Treinen

It’s a safe bet that the Yankees will add another reliever to their bullpen at some point this winter. Improving the bullpen isn’t a pressing need like it has been in year’s past but you can never have too many good relief pitchers. Three names come to mind in right-handers Dellin Betances, Joe Smith, and Blake Treinen. Any one of these guys would help deepen the Yankee pen and give Aaron Boone another quality option to choose from.

Betances has spent his entire pro career with the Yankees and is a free agent for the first time. The four-time All-Star only pitched in one game last season due to shoulder issues and when he did make his season debut in early September he partially tore his Achilles. It was a brutal blow for Dellin but he should be healthy and ready to go for spring training which means he’ll still likely garner plenty of interest on the free-agent market because of his great track record.

The Yankees would love to have Dellin back, but he could be out of their price range if opposing teams offer him a multi-year deal. The only way I see him returning is if it’s on a one year deal as well and maybe with a club option for 2021.

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Joe Smith is a guy I’ve wanted on the Yankees for years now just so they don’t have to face him in the playoffs. The 35-year old sidearmer has been a thorn in New York’s side two out of the last three Octobers and has always come up big on the postseason stage. His ability to shut down right-handed hitters has always been his biggest strength and is part of what makes him so valuable.

If the Yanks signed Smith he would provide a different look in a group that’s filled with power arms. He would be a great addition and the Yankee pen is so deep that he could be used at any time in a game which could increase his effectiveness.

Blake Treinen just recently became a free agent after he was surprisingly non-tendered by the A’s and should be highly sought after despite having a poor season in 2019. That’s because two years ago he was arguably the best reliever in baseball so a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs to get his career back on track.

Treinen really struggled to keep his power sinker down in the zone last season, but he still has plus stuff and the ability to dominate as he did in 2018. He could be a great reclamation project for new pitching coach Matt Blake to work with.