Yankees better hope possible bullpen savior doesn't let them down again

The return of an important bullpen piece is on the horizon ... or, at least that's how the New York Yankees feel. Fans might be divided on the subject of Jonathan Loaisiga because of the mixed results the team has gotten over the years.

But the Yankees didn't care about the inconsistency or lengthy injury history when they decided to re-sign him for $5 million this offseason despite the fact he's only pitched in 20 games since the start of 2023. Are we really to believe the Mets were hot on his tail and the Yankees couldn't stomach seeing another one of their own defect to Steve Cohen?

Whatever the case, it's evident the Yankees are going to overvalue his return solely based on the money they gave him – nearly the same amount he made doing nothing for two straight seasons. And given the Yankees' bullpen situation right now, Loaisiga better come through to make the front office look good.

We'll find out if that's the case relatively soon, too. Loaisiga had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Scranton on Wednesday and he looked quite sharp in two innings of action.

While the results have been pretty encouraging so far (5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 9 K between Tampa and Scranton), none of it matters until Loaisiga can deliver in pinstripes.

Jonathan Loaisiga must reward Yankees' faith upon return to MLB

The 30-year-old's lone productive season came in 2021 when he produced 3.3 WAR thanks to a 2.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings. He was the Yankees' best reliever that season, but it didn't matter because it coincided with one of the most frustrating playoff teams in modern history.

The 2021 Yankees might've been 92-70, but they let countless games slip away in agonizing fashion, ultimately leading to their defeat in the AL Wild Card Game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Boston held the tiebreaker over the Bombers, which gave them homefield advantage.

The year prior, Loaisiga was shady during the shortened 2020 campaign and then fell apart in the postseason in his two innings of work. He also gave up two runs to the Red Sox in that 6-2 ALWC loss.

If Loaisiga can return to erase multiple innings at a time and handle some high-leverage moments, this move will end up being viewed favorably. Right now, there's certainly a need for somebody to take pressure off the bullpen, especially the back end. The Yankees blew another late lead on Saturday against the Athletics, with Fernando Cruz and Ian Hamilton unraveling in the seventh and eighth innings.

But Loaisiga has a concerning trend to overcome with his injuries. Fans will be rooting for him, but many can't say they're optimistic about seeing top-notch production from somebody who pitched in just three games last year.