Yankees link feels even stronger after Adrian Morejon's leaked free agency preference

Whether or not you believe the heights of last summer's trade deadline frenzy, the New York Yankees' interest in Adrian Morejon runs deep. The Yankees, Rays, and Pirates all had registered interest in Morejon last summer, but the San Diego Padres didn't budge, instead keeping the super bullpen intact. The gambit worked; they entered the playoffs against the odds and played the eventual World Champion Milwaukee Brewers tougher than any other opponent. If not for an all-time Jackson Chourio at-bat against Mason Miller and a wayward roof, they might've pulled off the upset.

An emotional Morejon clearly wanted to remain in San Diego over the summer, but now faces a crossroads once again. Whether you believe it's been adequately debunked or you prefer the bunk version, there was late deadline buzz that the Yankees tried to hand over controllable starter Will Warren in exchange for two months of Morejon. That sounds insane. It is insane. But the fact that that rumor even escaped contain shows how much they wanted him, even if it's a little extreme and potentially a twisted version of the truth.

Jeff Passan, meanwhile, recapped the trade deadline by saying the Yankees could've gotten either Morejon or Mason Miller ... but only with George Lombard Jr. in the package, an even more frightful ask.

Now, that won't be necessary. Morejon will cost a hefty chunk of change, but hey, it's just money. Michael Kay began the offseason fervor by noting that people in the Yankees' organization love Morejon. Early rumors have connected them more strongly to the bullpen than any other position, with David Bednar/Paul Blackburn reunions both plausible. Even if that duo comes back, the job of building a bullpen is far from finished, and shortening the game on the back end is more realistic than the Yankees splurging on a starter.

According to insiders at The Athletic, teams have come calling about converting Morejon, but he's not interested. Instead, he'd prefer to stay a reliever — which is what the Yankees like about him, and is also the kind of market they can afford to play in.

The downside to Yankees' pursuit of Adrian Morejon as only a reliever

It's nice to know Morejon won't be tempted into starting by the bright lights and higher dollar figures.

It's a bummer to know that we can't go back in time and stop the Padres from placing the qualifying offer on Morejon.

The Yankees did the same with Bednar in an effort to both obtain a draft pick if he departed and somewhat suppress his market, given how many teams are terrified to sacrifice a pick for any reason. Add the Yankees to that list. They weren't willing to pay big to upgrade the bridge to Bednar last winter, instead pulling rabbits out of their hat and transforming Blackburn/Brent Headrick. Would they really do so heading towards a lockout for Morejon?

Perhaps the organization's long-standing love of the pitcher and his reliever-only preferences will change that calculus.

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