4 relievers Yankees should target this offseason (without breaking the bank)

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Hey. Heyyyyyy. Hey! Don't sign bullpen arms to multi-year deals. Don't do it. Especially don't do it with this current free agent class, which is full of high-priced landmines. You want Jordan Hicks? Hey, who wants to pay Aroldis Chapman? Do not do it!

Still, with a high degree of uncertainty in next year's 'pen and Michael King transitioning into a starting role (it would appear), the Yankees should still be all in on shoring up their unit this offseason. Wandy Peralta is hitting free agency, and likely will not be returning. Clay Holmes is a free agent after 2024. Even if you don't want to pay these guys, pretending the Yankees have a whole new trustworthy bullpen ready to go at Triple-A is a laughable fallacy.

Matt Blake might be good at printing relievers, but he can't print four new closers at once. Jonathan Loaisiga and Holmes might be penciled in, but surely this team has learned its lesson by now about relying on Loaisiga for too many innings ... right? ... Right?!?

Also, don't look at Ron Marinaccio's Scranton stats. By God, do not do it.

The Josh Haders and David Robertsons of the world may be tempting, but the Yankees should be able to build their typical elite bullpen without relying on $8+ million AAV options. Keep an eye on these three players all offseason and see if the Yankees can pounce.

4 relievers Yankees should pursue (in free agency, on trade market)

John Brebbia, San Francisco Giants

Brebbia was a Yankees draft pick first, back in the day (2011, 30th round out of Elon), which means -- in my humble opinion -- they should be allowed to get the 33-year-old back for free this offseason, no takebacks.

Barring that last-minute rule change, though, the Yankees should still be all in on the right-hander, who recently returned to the San Francisco Giants' active roster in the midst of an impressive campaign.

The righty posted a 3.18 ERA in 76 games last year (68 innings), surviving despite an elevated 1.31 WHIP. This year, he's whiffed 37 in 29.2 innings pitched, flipping last year's ratio on its head (he only struck out 54 men in 2022).

In a limited amount of work this season, he's still excelled in terms ofexpected ERA/batting average/velocity, though he's surrendered more hard contact than you might like. Still, he feels like the type of aging bullpen flyer the Rays are able to squeeze one final, great year out of, and with a better fastball than you might think, he seems like a solid middle-innings fit for the Yankees.

Keynan Middleton, New York Yankees

If you think highly enough of Keynan Middleton to trade for him during a lost 2023 season, why wouldn't you also try to ink him to a reasonable contract at the close of the campaign?

Like most Yankees trade additions, he's already succumbed to a shoulder issue, joining Ian Hamilton on the list of late-season, non-serious injuries that'll still probably close the books on 2023. That makes it a successful year for the power-fastball-throwing right-hander, who exudes emotion on the mound after inducing swings and misses, whether it's the seventh inning or the fourth.

The Yankees should've learned plenty from this year's August/September slate. Randy Vásquez and Jhony Brito should certainly be considered bullpen options moving forward; Albert Abreu should not be. Tommy Kahnle can still be effective, but goodness gracious, he should not be allowed to inherit runners. Maybe build him up a bit better next year. And Middleton? He can really pitch. In limited time in the Bronx, the 29-year-old struck out 17 in 13.1 innings, allowing just five hits, one earned run, six walks, and no homers. That's a 2.06 FIP, but ... his 4.58 mark/1.349 WHIP in far more duty in Chicago earlier in the season should give other teams pause.

Middleton has bounced around enough that it shouldn't take more than a two-year commitment to secure him, even at this age. Maybe the Yankees can get away with one year, $5 million? 2023 was inspiring, but the track record isn't there. New York should look to secure a bargain here, especially after Middleton had such effusive praise for their ethos after coming over midseason (and such shade for the ChiSox).

Jason Foley, Detroit Tigers

Sorry, but a 27-year-old righty with a heavy, Holmes-esque sinker? Controllable through 2027? From Manhasset? Went to high school in North Bellmore? College at Sacred Heart? How is Jason Foley not already a Yankee? Or, at least, how was he not a trade deadline splash?

Either the asking price was astronomical, or the Yankees weren't inclined to think outside the box this summer, because Foley very clearly could've been the next in line in their Holmes/Scott Effross series of acquisitions.

Foley's fastball velocity is exceptional (97.3 MPH average, 94th percentile) and the pitch is remarkably effective (98th percentile run value), but he doesn't chase whiffs -- or, if he does chase them, he doesn't receive them (6th percentile). He does still get batters to chase often, though, ranking in the 86th percentile in that metric. It all adds up to a 2.41 ERA with 52 Ks in 59.2 innings pitched, predicated on inducing his opponents to beat the ball into the ground.

Foley was too hittable in 2022 (72 hits in 60.1 innings pitched), which can happen when you chase contact. Unlike Holmes, though, his power sinker rarely dives out of the zone and creates a walk issue; he's only allowed 13 free passes this year after walking 11 last year. It'd be a little odd to bring Holmes' replacement into the building while the incumbent is still holding down the ninth inning, but from a mentorship angle (and after thinking long and hard about the Yankees' favorite prototypes), this makes perfect sense.

Justin Topa, Seattle Mariners

Topa would also be a trade conversation; he doesn't hit free agency until after the 2026 season. But if there's one thing we've learned from the Mariners, it's that they have no issue treating bullpen pieces like fungible assets, outside of Andrés Muñoz. Paul Sewald was dealt at this year's deadline in the midst of a playoff push (before things really got cooking). Erik Swanson left over the winter in the Teoscar Hernández deal. Kendall Graveman was plucked out of the 'pen as Seattle was heating up two seasons ago.

Those players don't appear to be washed, either. Swanson's been great in Toronto, posting a 3.10 ERA with 67 Ks in 58 innings. Seattle just appears to believe trading peaking bullpen assets is a good way to get what you want, and has a braintrust in place that's extra good at finding "the next guy," just like the Yankees.

It would stand to reason that the 32-year-old Topa, a Long Island native, would be available after his breakout 2023 season. The 6-4, 200 pound righty has posted 1.5 bWAR this year, maintaining a 2.51 ERA while striking out 50 in 57.1 mostly high-leverage innings.

Topa is 75% reliant on a sinker/slider combination, and ranks in the top 5% of the league nearly across the board in terms of expected performance. Can he sustain it year-over-year, especially after only finding his footing in the bigs as he enters his mid-30s? It's a risky proposition, but should make him cheaper on the trade market than Swanson. It's highly likely he could be pried away from Seattle, no matter how well his season ends.

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4 relievers Yankees should pursue (in free agency, on trade market)

John Brebbia, San Francisco Giants

Keynan Middleton, New York Yankees

Jason Foley, Detroit Tigers

Justin Topa, Seattle Mariners

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