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Low-Risk, High-Reward Moves The New York Yankees Could Make

Caylor Arnold-USATSI
Caylor Arnold-USATSI

Sign Neftali Feliz

From 2010-11, only five closers in baseball (Heath Bell, Brian Wilson, Francisco Cordero, Mariano Rivera, Jose Valverde) recorded more saves than Neftali Feliz.

Unfortunately, after his 2011 campaign, he only appeared in 44 games over three years and maintained an overall 6.48 ERA while surrendering 10.7 hits per nine innings with Texas and Detroit in 2015.

However, the former All-Star returned to respectability in 2016 by posting a 3.52 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched. He also posted a strong strikeout to walk ratio of 10.2 strikeouts to 3.5 walks per nine innings pitched with a spectacular batting average against of .207. 

Feliz also showed signs of pure dominance, like when he didn’t surrender an earned run from April 30 to June 5 while opposing hitters slashed .094/.094/.156.

His stock has heightened and he should be able to obtain a contract worth more than his $3.9 million salary from a year ago, but if Cashman can pull a one-year deal out of him, Feliz could be a perfect fit in his bullpen.

Assuming they pursue Aroldis Chapman and obtain him, it would push Dellin Betances back into his setup role and Tyler Clippard into the seventh inning.

With that and the signing of Feliz, New York could have a pretty solid middle relief unit featuring him, Layne, Bleier, Adam Warren, Bryan Mitchell or others who may make their way onto the 25-man roster in Spring Training.