The clock is ticking for the New York Yankees as Spring Training is underway and Opening Night against the San Francisco Giants on March 25 looms in the near horizon. After a few offseason moves, one critical gap remains: they could already benefit from landing a veteran relief pitcher before the season starts.
Rather than chasing a marquee starting pitcher, which might seem tempting given the recent arbitration drama with Tarik Skubal in Detroit, the bullpen appears to be the weaker link compared to the rotation.
David Bednar has proven himself a reliable closer, delivering postseason momentum after the Yankees acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates last year. Yet with the departures of Luke Weaver and Devin Williams to the New York Mets, the relief corps behind him is relatively untested.
To avoid another sprint to shore up the bullpen midseason, New York should act now. Jasson Domíñez, a dynamic prospect who struggled to find a fixed role last year, has no guaranteed spot in a crowded lineup featuring Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Trent Grisham. Even manager Aaron Boone has suggested Domínguez might gain more development time in the minors, raising the possibility of including him in a trade package for a reliever. Dealing Domíñez now could be advantageous, capturing his peak value before the next wave of uncertainty hits.
Possible Relievers The Yankees Could Target via Trade
Among the top options on the market is Houston Astros right-hander Bryan Abreu. He flashed strong closing potential, recording seven saves in 12 opportunities and posting a 2.28 ERA over 71 innings last season. However, Houston may be reluctant to part with a high-impact arm, given Abreu’s outstanding track record and his strong contribution to relief success over several years.
If Abreu isn’t attainable, other viable pieces include St. Louis Cardinals lefty JoJo Romero, who worked to a 2.07 ERA with eight saves last season and could appeal to a team in rebuild mode as part of a broader trade package. Both Abreu and Romero are free agents after the upcoming season, which means the Yankees wouldn’t be signing an extended, costly commitment.
Even if the bullpen isn’t fully reshaped by spring, the current relievers will have opportunities to prove themselves during Spring Training. Still, it would be prudent for the Yankees to pursue an upgrade now rather than risk a fragile bullpen later.
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