Yankees Not Built for Closing

The Yankees inability to close games is as much a matter of misallocated funds, as it is a poorly timed slump by two-time All-Star closer Clay Holmes. The Yankees are projected to spend 8.6% of their $308m payroll on their bullpen, yet the average 8-man bullpen represents 31% of a 26-man roster.

Put another way, the Yankees are spending $27,833,333 on Carlos Rodon, compared to $26,719,641 on their entire bullpen. Would you rather spend $27m on one average starter (Rodon is 42^nd in AL WAR), or add proven late-inning relievers?

In the Steinbrenner era, the Yankees’ winning formula has been to stack the back end of the bullpen, led by the likes of Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Dave Righetti, John Wetteland and Mariano Rivera. In the 2009 championship season, the GOAT was joined in the bullpen by David Robertson, Phil Hughes, Phil Coke, Brian Bruney and Joba Chamberlin.

More recently, in 2019, the backend was held down by Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and Zack Britton. Since that hard-throwing trio left, the Yankees have not used their financial strength to acquire bullpen help.

Case in point, on January 17, 2024, the Yankees allocated $18m per year to Marcus Stroman, another average starter who sits 46^th in WAR in the AL. Two days later, the rival Houston Astros signed free agent Josh Hader for $19m per year. Hader has the most saves in the majors over the last 5 years and is the strikeout specialist the Yankees lack.

This post is not an indictment of Holmes. By most metrics, Holmes has been one of Brian Cashman’s best in-season trades. In 3+ years with Pittsburgh, his ERA was 5.57. In 3+ season with NY, his ERA is 2.69. Perhaps his success has emboldened the Yanks to go bargain shopping for relievers like Luke Weaver and Mark Leiter, Jr. rather than big game shopping for the likes of Tanner Scott or Mason Miller.

Here’s a complete list of the 27 relievers that the Yankees have rostered this season and how much has been allocated to each group.

The Veterans
Yankees are spending $18,250,000 on Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Mark Leiter, Jr. and the injured Lou Trivino and Jonathan Loaisiga.

The Journeymen
Another $2,909,000 goes to Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Tim Hill, Ron Marinaccio, Phil Bickford, and Tim Mayza.

Minor Leaguers
Roughly $2,877,641 is allocated to pitchers buried in the minors including Nick Burdi, Victor Gonzalez, Matt Sauer, Cody Morris, Josh Maciejewski, Clayton Beeter, Anthony Mickiewicz and Tanner Tully.

Retained Salaries
$2,683,000 is being retained on the departed Caleb Ferguson, Michael Tonkin, Dennis Santana, Enyel De Los Santos, Clayton Andrews and Nick Ramirez.

Read those names again.

You get what you pay for.

(All salary information was researched on the website Spotrac.com)