Yankees lose yet another viable bullpen piece to Angels as market disintegrates

If you're wondering who in the market is currently outfoxing and outflanking the New York Yankees for viable relief options, the answer is ... anyone and everyone.

The Yanks didn't need to shop at the tippy top of the market to make their mark and rebuild a beleaguered bullpen, but Robert Suarez would've been nice at $15 million per year. The Braves got him. They didn't need to pay Pete Fairbanks $13 million, either (for a multitude of reasons) but still, it's kind of funny the Marlins did it instead. The Guardians have an ever-churning bullpen machine and one of the game's best units, but that didn't stop them from pouncing on Shawn Armstrong for $5.5 million after a big year in Texas. If the Yankees wouldn't go there, and instead let Cleveland further enhance a strength of theirs with an affordable deal, then where will they go, other than down the tubes in the late innings?

On Tuesday, we found another level of relief deal the Yankees have no interest in. Minutes after the Yanks finally announced their deal with Amed Rosario, Kirby Yates landed in Anaheim. The 38-year-old followed likely the best season of his career in Texas with a laugher in Los Angeles. Now, he gets to (probably?) stay home and try to rebound in a low-pressure environment (and one that just lost Kenley Jansen).

The Yankees? They like their guys. That's what they're telling us. Despite not having enough guys last season with Luke Weaver and Devin Williams in tow.

Kirby Yates signs with Angels as Yankees lose yet another bullpen option

At what dollar value were the Yankees uncomfortable with Yates? That we don't know yet.

Still, it seems like the lowest rung on the reliever ladder that they've passed on, to this point, among All-Stars with pedigree who could still bring a defined impact to an up-in-the-air late-inning group. Paul Blackburn's guarantee throws a wrench further into things, as the Yankees seem prepared to roll with David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Tim Hill, and Jake Bird in high leverage. Hold me.

In order to survive a full 162-game season, you need enough bullpen depth that you'd feel comfortable with any one of your potential short relievers taking the ball in the ninth, if need be. As of now, three months before Opening Day, only three Yankees feel at all suited to doing so. Three isn't eight. Eight would be enough. Three could really use a Yates type to buffer. And then another. And then another.

The Yankees are focused elsewhere.