The New York Yankees are reportedly “interested” in relievers Boone Logan and Brad Ziegler to help promote depth beyond their filthy duo.
The New York Yankees‘ offseason seems indolent for the moment and while that’s dull, they still have some interest in upgrading the 2017 squad.
According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, New York is “interested in setup men such as Boone Logan and Brad Ziegler.” Both, let alone one, would provide the Yankees with some much-needed middle relief stability to help satisfy a more than questionable rotation.
Logan is coming off a steady year where he sustained a 3.69 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts compared to 20 walks ratio in 46.1 innings of work.
Despite having three left-handers in Richard Bleier, Chasen Shreve and Tommy Layne, Logan (.142/.222/.255 vs LHB in 2016) will provide New York’s a proven lefty specialist.
The 37-year-old Ziegler has maintained a 2.05 earned run average while yielding just five home runs in 136 innings of work over the last two seasons (135 games).
In 2016, Ziegler was one of just ten relief pitchers in baseball to record a 2.25 ERA or lower while appearing in 65 or more games. Among those relievers, he surrendered the second-fewest home runs — just one more than the nasty Andrew Miller did.
While both these names would bring serious depth to the bullpen which already features Tyler Clippard, Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances, Sherman reports that Cashman will not pull the trigger on a deal unless he can unload more salary.
With a deal involving Chase Headley and Brett Gardner seem not imminent, there doesn’t appear to be other options Cashman could pursue to shave some payroll.
Meaning, as Sherman alludes to, no significant changes should be made. Interest is one thing, but the Yankees won’t sell Headley or Gardner unless the price is right.
Expect New York to fill any void in the bullpen with one of the odd arms out in the battle for the rotation this Spring Training.
After three apparent locks in Behind Masahiro Tanaka, C Sabathia and Michael Pineda the Yankees have Luis Cessa, Chad Green, Luis Severino, Bryan Mitchell and Adam Warren competing for the final two spots.
Unless an unlikely trade of Gardner or Headley occurs, the losers of that key position battle will fill any unoccupied positions in the ‘pen.
