In the history of baseball, has relief pitching ever been more important than it is now? With complete games going the way of the dinosaur and starting pitchers having their workloads monitored, it’s more crucial than ever for teams to have deep bullpens capable of picking up the slack once managers make the call to the bullpen. Having an effective group of relivers has been a calling card for the Yankees in recent years, and it appears that the 2025 team will follow suit, as it has a group of arms capable of dominating the late innings.
Adding one of the best closers in the game will go a long way for the Bombers. Among pitchers who have thrown a total of at least 140 innings since the start of the 2022 season, Devin Williams’ 1.66 ERA and his .139 batting average against are both the best in the Majors. The Yanks have also shown an ability to find cost-efficient bullpen assets. Who might emerge the same way Luke Weaver did last season? A modification in his delivery mechanics led to great success – he eliminated his leg kick, adopted a kind of slide-step motion, and became one of baseball’s best stories last year. Pairing Weaver with Williams, the two-time National League Reliever of the Year, gives the Yankees one of the best late-game duos in the sport.
Much has been made over Williams’ “Airbender” changeup, and with good reason. Over the last two seasons, opposing batters hit just .111 against that specific pitch. Its spin rate is well above the MLB average and its movement appears to defy gravity. However, Williams is not the only reliever on the Yankees who owns a pitch that has been near-unhittable in recent years. Another trade acquisition, Fernando Cruz, owns a lethal split-finger fastball. Opponents had just a .105 batting average against it between 2023 and 2024! It helped him roll up close to 15 strikeouts per nine innings during that span, and if pitching coach Matt Blake can help him adjust his mechanics or pitch mix to avoid home run and control problems he dealt with while he was with Cincinnati, Cruz could become a significant piece of the Yankees’ bullpen.
The late-spring addition of veteran Ryan Yarbrough adds more depth, while pitchers like Ian Hamilton and Scott Effross build themselves up after missing time in camp. Yarbrough will also help the Yankees absorb the absence of the injured Jake Cousins, who along with Tim Hill grew into trusted options for Aaron Boone in big spots last year. Mark Leiter Jr. is looking forward to his first full season with the Yanks. Perhaps Jonathan Loáisiga will provide a boost after he recovers from elbow surgery, and you never know when a prospect might emerge out of nowhere. No matter who’s available, the power of the pen will be vital for the Yanks as they travel down the winding road of another season.
