Yankees reportedly answer first major question of offseason with desperately needed Matt Blake deal

With one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball, the New York Yankees were often carried by the work done on the mound this season. A large reason for that success was due to the coaching brilliance of Matt Blake, who has earned quite the reputation as a pitcher whisperer in recent years. That success was why it was absolutely necessary for the Yankees to bring back Blake next season at any cost. 

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, it appears that the team is well on their way to ensuring that he does in fact stick around. Sherman noted on Friday that a source informed him that “Blake and the Yankees are in the midst of negotiating a new contract and moving toward a deal."     

It remains unclear how long that contract will last and how much money it'll be worth. Regardless, most Yankees fans would probably unload a dump truck filled with their own money at Blake’s feet if it meant keeping him in the Bronx. With Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman retained for at least one more season, the club looks as if it will hold off on making any drastic changes for now (with a potential offensive pivot still to come). 

That is why it was vitally important that Blake return in 2027.

Matt Blake has been key to a dominant Yankees’ pitching staff 

When the Yankees brought Blake on board in November 2019, there was maybe a hint of hesitation from fans of the team. Blake had spent five years in Cleveland, serving as the organization's lower-level minor league pitching coordinator before being promoted as the assistant director of pitching development in 2016. He played an integral role in building up Cleveland into a pitching powerhouse, so he had the credentials.  

However, he had yet to serve as a pitching coach at the big league-level when the Yankees made the decision to hire him. Seven years later, Blake has proven that the team certainly made the right call. Not including the shortened COVID-19 season, the Yankees pitching staff has yet to surrender 700 runs or more in a season under Blake. 

The Yankees have also consistently ranked near the top of the league in FIP, WHIP, and ERA+ throughout Blake’s tenure as well. The Yankees have reached those heights while also turning a number of pitchers’ careers around. Just this season, he helped transform Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick into some of the most effective relievers in baseball. 

Before 2026, Blackburn’s best season was arguably his rookie year back in 2017. As a starting pitcher, Blackburn posted an ERA+ of 130 in 10 starts. In the years that followed, the right-handed pitcher struggled to find any real success after battling through numerous injuries. In 62 appearances as a reliever in 2026, Blackburn had an ERA+ of 248. It’s difficult to overlook just how big of an impact that Blake had on Blackburn as a pitcher. His work with Blackburn alone should have earned Blake a lifelong contract with the Yankees - and now it's time for him to get working on the next Blackburn.

With similar success, Headrick also experienced a career year in 2026. He struck out 98 batters in 78.1 innings of work out of the bullpen. He also boasted a FIP of 2.46, the lowest among all Yankees pitchers this season. As a pitcher with just 52.2 innings pitched in his career prior to this season, there was still a lot of unknown around Headrick as a pitcher. Blake was able to highlight Headrick’s strengths and turn him into one of Boone’s most trusted arms all season. Again, this alone could have earned Blake a long-term contract with the club.

Since joining the Yankees, Blake has managed to avoid just about any criticism from the Yankees fan base. That is a monumental feat and a testament to his work with the team. Until he proves otherwise, Blake should be given a blank check from the Yankees. There were some glaring issues with the club throughout the 2026 season, but pitching was not one of them.     

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