Getty The Yankees have been linked to Héctor Neris this winter. However, a team insider revealed New York's preferences to upgrade the bullpen.
After a disappointing 82-80 season in 2023, the New York Yankees have made some upgrades in hopes of returning to the postseason in 2024.
General manager Brian Cashman gave the lineup a boost by acquiring Juan Soto. Marcus Stroman was also added to bolster the starting rotation. New York’s focus has now turned to the bullpen, per The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty. Their preference is to bring one of two hurlers — left-hander Wandy Peralta or right-hander Keynan Middleton — back who pitched for them in 2023.
“The Yankees love the quirky Peralta, who’s said to have one of the wildest senses of humor in the clubhouse,” Kuty wrote in a story published January 18. “And he was a revelation for them after they acquired him from the San Francisco Giants in early 2021, riding his changeup into high-leverage innings.”
And Middleton “would fit as a middle-innings veteran who could be tapped for more important duties if necessary,” he wrote.
Right-hander Héctor Neris was a Yankee bullpen target earlier in January, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, but he’s been told not to expect a deal from the Yankees, YES Network’s Jack Curry reported on January 23.
How Peralta and Middleton Performed in the Bronx
Peralta played for the Cincinnati Reds and Giants before landing with the Yankees during the 2021 season. Based on his performance, the left-hander has blossomed as a reliever in the Bronx.
He’s appeared in 165 games for New York across parts of three seasons. It’s led to a 10-9 record with a 2.82 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 153 innings pitched. His yearly ERA numbers have been quite consistent, as well. It was 2.95 in 2021, followed by a 2.72 mark in 2022 and 2.83 in 2023.
As for Middleton, he joined the Yankees from the Chicago White Sox at the 2023 trade deadline. While the sample size was small, he proved to be quite effective for New York. Before the trade, Middleton posted a 3.96 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP in 36.1 innings. After the trade, those numbers improved to 1.88 and 0.98, respectively, in 14.1 frames.
The Yankees Have Pressure to Compete in 2024
Hearing that there’s an expectation for the Yankees to compete might sound obvious. It’s the Yankees — their 27 World Series titles are easily the most in baseball history. Combine that with playing in a major media market like New York, and pressure is just a part of everyday life.
The pressure may feel a little greater than normal for a couple of reasons, though. New York hasn’t produced a losing season since 1992. However, the 82 wins they registered in 2023 are their fewest since that campaign, which is now more than three decades ago.
And manager Aaron Boone is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract and, according to NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch, “it could be his last” as a Yankee if he doesn’t improve on 2023.
“Guess who’ll take the heat if the Yankees don’t deliver on their off-season promises? If they’re, say, 6-7 games out in May, the fury will triangulate right to Boone,” Klapisch wrote in a January 22 column. “The Yankees could be just as mediocre in 2024. That would cost Boone his job, if not during the season, then certainly when his contract is up in November.”
Acquiring Soto from the San Diego Padres was a win-now move. But could 2024 be the only year the left-handed slugger is with the club? Soto, a Scott Boras client, is set to become a free agent at season’s end. New York knows him being in the Bronx might not extend beyond the upcoming season. So to justify the package of players sent to San Diego to acquire him and outfielder Trent Grisham, a deep October run is needed.
The Yankees have made the playoffs seven times since 2015. They’ve missed punching a postseason ticket in consecutive years only once this century. It happened in 2013 and 2014. Based on the moves Cashman and Co. have made this winter, they’d like to keep it that way.