The Yankees didn’t add bullpen help at the trade deadline, but they are still making moves to fortify their relief corps.
The Yankees on Tuesday called up 27-year-old right hander Bradley Hanner from Triple-A, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Hanner has been in the minor leagues for seven years, most recently going 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in Triple-A. A 21st-round pick in 2019, he had 61 strikeouts in 51.1 innings.
The Yankees bullpen is among the best in baseball, led by high-leverage guys Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick, Fernando Cruz and David Bednar.
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Starters Will Warren and Ryan Weathers could also get shifted to the pen once Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt return from the injured list.
Yankees legend Alex Rodriguez, for one, was surprised general manager Brian Cashman didn’t add a big-name reliever or two at the Aug. 3 deadline, pointing out that without Aaron Judge, the Yankees are involved in a lot of close games that tax the bullpen.
“I would’ve loved to see an extra arm or two because the by-product of not having a good offense, especially without Judge, they’re pretty much 30th in every offensive category,” Rodriguez said on The Michael Kay Show. “What’s gonna happen is you’re gonna play in a lot of tight games, you’re not gonna blow anyone out.
“That means you’re gonna tax your bullpen. You’re gonna be the belly of your bullpen most of the year, and by the time September comes, their arms are gonna fall off. So that’s my biggest concern.”
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