The Yankees’ bullpen should still be one of Brian Cashman’s biggest offseason priorities, even after a season that left New York with one of the best relief groups in baseball. Six relievers are headed for free agency, and while David Bednar is the headline name in that mix, the more immediate issue may be finding left-handed answers for Tim Hill and Ryan Yarbrough.
Hill’s season went in the wrong direction. He finished with a 4.60 ERA in 67 appearances, a sharp drop from his 3.09 ERA in 70 appearances in 2025.
Right-handers gave him plenty of trouble, batting .293 against him, and his home run rate climbed to 5.0% after sitting at 3.0% in 2025. He was also hit hard late, posting a 9.53 ERA and a .307 OBA in seven September appearances.
Yarbrough was used more as a long-relief piece, and his numbers were steadier. In 38 appearances and two starts, the 34-year-old put up a 3.69 ERA, an improvement from his 4.36 ERA in 19 appearances and eight starts in 2025.
He limited opponents to a .226 average and a .635 OPS, while also posting a strong 25.0% hard-hit rate. Unlike Hill, he stayed effective in September, finishing with a 2.61 ERA in six appearances and one start.
If both southpaws leave, the Yankees will need outside help, and the free-agent market offers a few lefties worth a look. Adrian Morejon has been mentioned as a strong fit, but the focus here shifts to three other options.
A.J. Minter stands out as a polished bullpen arm who can miss bats and handle both sides of the plate.
The 33-year-old worked for the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins this season and logged a 2.56 ERA in 48 appearances. He held hitters to a .227 average and a 36.8% hard-hit rate after returning from lat surgery in 2025.
Lefties hit .244 against him, righties .211, and he allowed nine home runs. With a four-pitch mix and prior experience in New York, he looks like a sensible one-year target.
Jose Alvarado brings a different profile: power. The 32-year-old’s sinker and four-seamer each reached 97 mph this season, but control remains the sticking point.
He walked 31 batters, his second-highest total in a season, over 68 appearances. His year in Philadelphia was rough overall, ending with a 5.86 ERA, even though he allowed only five home runs and opponents didn’t square him up often, producing a 31.9% hard-hit rate.
Hitters still batted .279 against him, and Spotrac projects his calculated market value at one year and $6.5 million. If the price falls closer to $4 million, he could become a worthwhile gamble.
Steven Suter offers the more experienced, lower-cost path. The 37-year-old split the year between the Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves, struggling with the Angels to a 4.12 ERA in 41 appearances and three starts.
After the deadline move to Atlanta, though, his results improved dramatically: a 1.63 ERA in 13 relief outings and one start, with opponents hitting just .225 against him. Suter’s velocity won’t turn heads, but he gets ground balls at a 48.3% clip and limits hard contact.
On a cheap one-year deal, he could fit what New York needs as it looks for more left-handed stability in Aaron Boone’s bullpen plans.
In Other News...
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Minaya and Sabean brought plenty of front-office and scouting experience to the table, and their exits come as the Yankees continue reshaping the advisory group around Cashman. The bigger picture remains unchanged for now, with Cashman and manager Aaron Boone both under contract through the 2027 season, but this is the kind of quiet move that can signal broader changes in how the organization wants to operate going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Trade Fit With Padres Suddenly Looks Much More Real
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For the Yankees, that kind of fit is the sort of winter possibility worth watching closely. The Padres need starters, the Yankees have pitchers who could help fill that gap, and the overlap creates a natural conversation between two teams that could each benefit from a deal. Nothing is confirmed, of course, but the ingredients are there for this to become one of the more believable trade paths as the market develops. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Prospect Just Added Fuel To A Growing October Debate
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Core Jackson has now added another voice to that conversation, and it comes from inside the organizations prospect pipeline. The Yankees prospect recently praised the playing styles of the Brewers and Rays, calling attention to contact hitting and the value of putting pressure on the defense, a reminder that player development debates are already colliding with the bigger question of how the Yankees want to build for October. [Read more 🡒]