5 former All-Stars Yankees can still target this offseason

3. Taylor Rogers

Tommy Kahnle was the first bullpen domino to fall for the Yankees … but that was it during the Winter Meetings. That unit still needs more help (and more lefties!) and Taylor Rogers, the former closer for the Padres and Twins, is right there for the taking!

You want him for cheap? You want him in lower-leverage innings? Great, you can have him at your preferred price and put him in whatever role you want after his mixed bag of a 2022. Rogers had 28 saves, a 2.34 FIP and 1.11 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 41.1 innings with San Diego in the first half, then saw his ERA jump from 4.35 to 5.48 with Milwaukee. His FIP rose to 5.07. His WHIP went to 1.30. His strikeout numbers remained impressive, but he was absolutely shelled in his 23 innings as a Brewer.

That didn’t help his free agency case entering his age-32 season. Plus, his peripheral metrics were concerning (hard-hit percentage, fastball spin, barrel percentage, chase rate and expected slugging were all below average).

Maybe there’s a Matt Blake Mechanics Tweak to be made here? Rogers’ extension was a glaring issue (seventh percentile) in 2022. A little adjustment there could have him return to his 2021 All-Star ways.