The New York Yankees have been among the busiest teams in Major League Baseball this offseason. After losing Juan Soto, the top free agent of the market, to their cross-town rivals, the New York Mets, for a lucrative $756 million deal filled with incentives, the 2024 World Series runners-up have worked hard to bolster their roster through both trades and free agent signings to make up for Soto’s departure and enhance their chances at another championship run.
The Yankees, a historic franchise with 27 World Series titles from 41 appearances, are currently enduring a 15-year drought without a championship. Their most recent World Series win came in 2009, their only title since they triumphed over the Mets in the 2000 “Subway Series.”
So far this offseason, the Yankees have signed free agents Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt while also re-signing Jonathan Loáisiga. Additionally, they’ve traded for key assets, including bullpen closer Devin Williams and veteran outfielder Cody Bellinger.
Despite these moves, the Yankees still face a major roster issue. As of now, they have no left-handed relievers in their bullpen. The team has reportedly shown interest in former Atlanta Braves pitcher A.J. Minter and Padres closer Tanner Scott, but no deals have been made yet, leaving their bullpen entirely composed of right-handed pitchers.
Recently, a new left-handed option has emerged in the form of Brooks Raley, a 36-year-old free agent reliever with the New York Mets. The Yankees, along with the Chicago Cubs, are reportedly considering offering him a multi-year deal. Raley, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery in May, could return to action by July. If the Yankees sign him, it would resemble the Boston Red Sox’s signing of Liam Hendriks last year, who was coming off Tommy John surgery as well. However, while Hendriks was a three-time All-Star, Raley has only recently returned to the MLB after a five-season stint in Korea. Despite this, Raley has shown promise since his return, posting sub-3.00 ERA numbers in both 2022 and 2023.
