Yankees offseason bullpen free agent targets

Over the past few years, Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office have done an outstanding job in terms of securing and locking up the back end of the bullpen. Whether it’s been getting Andrew Miller for a year and a half, or facilitating a trade this summer that included getting back Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson, the Yankees bullpen has continued to be elite despite losing the greatest closer in the history of the game in 2013. Yet, can the Yankees even further improve their bullpen heading into 2018? With a couple of big names on the market, and with the future of Dellin Betances being uncertain after his horrid October, it may be a smart move to add an arm to the bullpen.

Wade Davis | Age: 32 | 2017 Stats: 32 Saves, 2.30 ERA

It seemed as if Wade Davis was the only competent option out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the playoffs this past season, and is now an unrestricted free agent after making $10 million last year. Davis had a great year, as he did not blow a save until the last month of the regular season. Davis has been an All-Star the past three seasons, and also has some valuable playoff experience, this year with the Cubs and previously with the Royals from 2013-2016, including their World Series winning team. Davis would fit right in with the Yankee pen, and would compete for the Yankee setup role. However, it is unlikely the Yankees would be willing to spend too much to acquire him.

Photo Credit: AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Greg Holland | Age: 31 | 2017 Stats: 41 Saves, 3.61 ERA

Holland, like Davis, was a part of the 2015 Royals World Series team and was a vital part of the bullpen. Holland also shares with Davis the fact that he is a three-time All-Star, and Hollands career 2.60 ERA is impressive to say the least. Yet, his last two seasons have seen ERA’s of above 3.50, and has not looked as dominant as he did in his early Kansas City days. Holland did lead the N.L in saves this year, and recently turned down his player option for 2018, becoming a free agent, and could make the Yankees bullpen even more lethal. 

Photo Credit:David Zalubowski AP

Boone Logan | Age: 33 | 2017 Stats: 38 Games, 4.71 ERA

After the Indians decided to not extend him, Boone Logan became a free agent on November 6th, and the former Yankee could find himself back in the Bronx where he was for four seasons. Logan was very good while on the Yankees, but has not been as good since, sporting a 4.64 ERA in his three seasons with the Rockies from 2014-2016. Logan could be a slight upgrade from Chasen Shreve, yet only time will tell if the Yanks are willing to take a risk on the aging specialist.

Photo Credit: Julian Avram | Icon Sportswire

Mike Minor | Age: 29 | 2017 Stats: 6-6, 2.55 ERA, 6 Saves

After missing all of 2015 and 2016, Minor had a tremendous bounce back year for the Royals, appearing in 65 games and putting up some impressive numbers out of the bullpen. The former seventh overall pick however has claimed that he plans to move back to being a starter in 2018, yet that may not be his call to make, as he was a weapon out of the bullpen last year and may find himself staying there.

Photo Credit: AP

The Yankees will most likely not make any changes or additions to their bullpen this offseason, as it was the strength of this team during the second half of the year and throughout the postseason. However, it would not be shocking to see Cashman snag one of these big name free agents off the market to even further improve the bullpen,  and possibly even seeing Betances getting moved before 2018 Opening Day, which would make it much easier to bring in an elite arm such as Davis or Holland. 

Article By: Matt Luzzi

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