A Neglected bullpen is the only real weakness for the Yankees
TL;DR
The New York Yankees' bullpen is their primary weakness heading into the season, with little improvement made since last year. Key players like Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are recovering from surgeries, putting additional pressure on the bullpen.
Key points
- Yankees' bullpen is a major weakness
- Devin Williams had a poor season last year
- Yankees did not improve their bullpen in the offseason
- Max Fried and Ryan Weathers are key for the rotation
- Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are recovering from surgery
A Neglected bullpen is the only real weakness for the Yankees originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One thing that held the New York Yankees back last season was the state of their bullpen. Some, like Devin Williams, struggled to get anything going, having the worst season of his career.
While Williams signed a deal with the New York Mets over the offseason, the Bronx Bombers did little to address their shaky bullpen for this season.
And on top of that, the team headed into the season relying on names like Max Fried and new addition Ryan Weathers to stabilize the starting rotation until Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon can return from their respective surgeries.
MORE:Yankees fans can only help but laugh at Devin Williams after blowing games for Mets in losing streak
A neglected bullpen is the only real weakness for the Yankees
Cole and Rodon are on the verge of returning, both handling rehab starts. And the rotation has held things down without the two.
They, alongside the offense from Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and others, have helped this club start the year with an AL East-leading 15-9 record. But this team could be much better if they addressed the bullpen, which Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer suggests.
"The Yankees are already good, even though Aaron Judge only has a .241 average to go with his nine home runs. Meanwhile, they're still awaiting the returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon to the rotation. The bullpen, however, was largely neglected during the winter and has thus far been a net negative for the team's win probability. It can be fixed, but it'll be bad for morale until it is."
Watch for this team to take a closer look at someone like Pete Fairbanks, or maybe they could see what it would take to acquire Yilber Diaz or Adrian Morejon. Either way, this is something they need to address if they want to go on a deep run later this season when the playoffs begin.
More MLB news:
- Royals' stellar starting rotation is being wasted by a shaky bullpen
- Athletics surprising the league while waiting for the bats to wake up
- High strikeout rates and run differential have the Rangers looking dangerous
- Reds need to buy bats if they want to spark a true 'Cinderella run'
- Orioles viewed as top trade candidate for Cardinals' high-leverage lefty
Q&A
What issues did the Yankees face with their bullpen last season?
The Yankees struggled with their bullpen, highlighted by Devin Williams having the worst season of his career.
Who are the key players the Yankees are relying on for their starting rotation?
The Yankees are relying on Max Fried and Ryan Weathers to stabilize the starting rotation until Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon return from surgery.
What changes did the Yankees make to their bullpen this offseason?
The Yankees did little to address their bullpen issues during the offseason, despite Devin Williams signing with the Mets.
