Yankees ‘in play’ for reliever who wants more than $102M — but they don’t want to pay that

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s choice to join the Los Angeles Dodgers has left the New York Yankees in need of a starting pitcher. However, it seems the Yankees are exploring other avenues to bolster their team, with general manager Brian Cashman considering the option of building a dominant bullpen to shorten games. According to former general manager Jim Bowden, who spoke on CBS Sports HQ, the Yankees are actively pursuing lefty reliever Josh Hader, signaling their intent to enhance their bullpen.

Bowden highlighted that the stumbling block in acquiring Hader lies in the reliever’s contract demands, which reportedly exceed the five-year, $102 million deal secured by Edwin Diaz with the New York Mets. While the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers are also in contention for Hader, all three teams share a preference for signing a starting pitcher or executing a trade for one, rather than focusing on acquiring a closer. In the Yankees’ case, there is a desire to bring back Jordan Montgomery as a starting pitcher, but they are open to pivoting towards Hader, albeit at a more reasonable salary.

Despite a slight dip in dominance compared to earlier in his career, 29-year-old Hader remains one of the premier late-inning relievers in baseball. Following a challenging 2022 season with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, where he struggled with a career-low 5.22 ERA, Hader bounced back in 2023 with the Padres, boasting impressive stats such as a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 85 strikeouts, and 33 saves in 56 1/3 innings.

One notable aspect of Hader’s game is his tendency to walk a significant number of batters, reaching a career-high 13% last season. Despite this, he remains a formidable force on the mound, ranking fifth in MLB with a 36.8% strikeout rate. Hader relies primarily on a two-pitch repertoire, featuring a fastball/sinker and slider, with his fastball maintaining an average velocity of 96.3 mph, consistent with his career standards.

The Yankees already boast a strong bullpen, evidenced by their MLB-best 3.34 ERA in the previous season. The addition of Hader, alongside Clay Holmes, at the back end of their bullpen would undoubtedly present a formidable challenge for opposing teams.