The New York Yankees are gearing up to finalize their bullpen lineup as spring training unfolds. With Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone at the helm, they have a variety of options to consider, and the next few weeks will be crucial in making those decisions.
As the clock ticks down to the final games of spring training, the Yankees seem to have their sights set on certain players for those coveted bullpen spots. One name that's popping up is Jake Bird, a reliever who had a rocky start after joining the team last season. Despite the initial struggles, the Yankees remain optimistic about his potential.
Bird was brought on board from the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline last summer. While his early days in New York were challenging, leading to a stint in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees are hopeful that the offseason has given him the chance to regroup and showcase the talent they initially saw in him.
Pitching coach Matt Blake expressed confidence in Bird's future with the team, stating, “He is a guy we can rely upon this year. We just got to see it.
It was an exciting acquisition for us, and it just didn’t pan out in the short term. But we have a long-range vision for him.
He should have a successful time with us.”
For Bird, the upcoming spring training is pivotal. He'll need to put on a strong performance to clinch that final bullpen spot. The Yankees appear ready to give him every opportunity to prove himself, banking on his potential to become a key player in their bullpen strategy this season.