The Yankees have made their presence felt this offseason with a major trade on Monday, dealing four minor league prospects to the Reds for closer Aroldis Chapman, the owner of a fastball that routinely hits triple digits.
The Yankees’ bullpen is now home to the top three relievers in K/9, as well as a trio that combined for 78 saves. Chapman rated the highest in K/9, with a 15.74 mark. Andrew Miller posted a 14.59 K/9, while Dellin Betances barely trailed at 14.04. Assuming the Yankees keep all three to form the most frightening bullpen ever, here’s how manager Joe Girardi can be expected to take advantage.
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7th Inning: Betances
Betances was expected to take the closer job from Mariano Rivera, but Miller was the one Girardi turned to. That’s because Betances has proven he’s more valuable coming into high-leverage situations and getting strikeouts at will. That’s not to say Miller and Chapman couldn’t come in and do the same thing, but Betances was already familiar with the middle-to-late relief role and didn’t have the closer’s ego.
In the modern era a lack of saves won’t be a detriment to his earning power anymore; if anything he gains points for selflessly eschewing a glamour stat so he can best help his team.
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8th Inning: Miller
Miller was lights out last season, and Girardi can easily let him keep his job. Miller, like Betances, is very familiar with a setup role however. 2015 was Miller’s first season with the job, whereas Chapman has spent the last several seasons shutting the door. Like Betances, Miller also offers a bit more length out of the ‘pen, and these two can easily be flipped depending on the opponents’ lineup.
Closer: Chapman
Simply put, he has the best numbers. For all the combined greatness of Betances and Miller, Chapman posted a superior ERA, K/9, FIP, and home run percentage. He also boasts the best fastball, averaging 99.7 miles per hour on his heater. Betances averaged 97 miles per hour (sixth in MLB among relievers), while Miller’s sat at 94.3.
Chapman hasn’t recorded fewer than 33 saves in the last four years, and on the rare occasion he is hit, he doesn’t give up home runs.
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