Yankees in Talks with Relief Pitchers, Seeking Low-Cost Bullpen Depth

Team's cautious approach influenced by past experience with high-cost, low-performance contracts.

The New York Yankees are in talks with relief pitchers Héctor Neris, Phil Maton, Ryan Brasier, and Wandy Peralta, as they seek to bolster their bullpen depth at a relatively low cost before the 2024 season starts.
The Yankees are reportedly making low offers, possibly due to the time of year or a perceived supply-demand situation.
The team's reluctance to spend big on free agent pitching is attributed to their experience with Carlos Rodón, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract with New York in 2022 then pitched for a dismal 6.85 ERA in 14 starts during an injury-plagued 2023 season.
Despite the 2023 unit's exceptional performance, the Yankees are expected to strengthen their bullpen before Opening Day.
Keynan Middleton, who pitched well for the Yankees last season, is also being considered as a less expensive option.