After years of being known for their veritable “super-bullpens,” the Yankees’ relievers were merely average in 2020. Adding insult to injury, the team that eliminated them from the playoffs, the Tampa Bay Rays, had one of the game’s best bullpens last season. It was a slap in the face for a Yankees team that had prided itself on relief excellence.
Shortly after they were eliminated, I took a stab at “fixing” the Yankees’ bullpen. I explained that bullpens in today’s MLB have room for an expensive closer and setup man, but the most successful groups these days are filled out by cheap options who provide a variety of skillsets.