» More Ernie Palladino Columns
Having a nice, consistent closer represents a major asset for any team.
Having a shutdown setup/closer combo? That’s gold.
The Yankees had that this past season, and it proved to be a big part of the difference between earning a wild card spot and missing their way-too-short postseason entirely.
The late-inning combination of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller quickly became as lethal a combination as there was in the league. To break that up by trading the left-handed Miller, even for a quality starting pitcher, would be to put virtually every lead the Yanks get in 2016 in jeopardy.