The market continues to materialize for free agent reliever Robert Stephenson. Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets that the Rangers and Yankees have shown interest. Chandler Rome of the Athletic reports that the Astros have also checked in on the right-hander.
Along with that trio, the Dodgers, Angels, Cubs and Orioles have been linked to Stephenson at various points this offseason. Baltimore subsequently signed Craig Kimbrel to a $13MM contract, likely taking them out of a top-of-the-market reliever. The remainder of those clubs could still be involved, although the Angels have taken a lower-cost volume approach to build their middle relief corps.
The bullpen is the biggest question for Texas and Houston, the top two teams in the AL West. Those clubs’ respective baseball operations leaders, Chris Young and Dana Brown, have indicated they’re working with lesser financial flexibility than they’ve had in prior offseasons. Texas finalized a $4.5MM contract with former Brave Kirby Yates this evening. He joins José Leclerc and Josh Sborz as high-leverage righties, although the bullpen still seems the biggest question for the defending World Series winners.
Houston has Ryan Pressly, Rafael Montero, Bryan Abreu and Kendall Graveman as leverage options. Middle relief depth is more of a concern, as each of Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek reached free agency. A more affordable middle innings pickup may be a better fit, particularly with the Astros right up against the luxury tax line. To that end, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 tweeted this afternoon the Astros remain in touch with Maton’s camp.
The Yankees already have one of the league’s best relief corps. Building the bullpen has been a consistent strength for general manager Brian Cashman and his front office. Clay Holmes and Jonathan Loáisiga anchor a group that skews heavily toward the right side. While Stephenson could represent something of a luxury buy, the Yankees haven’t shied away from spending on relievers and are clearly in an aggressive win-now mode.
MLBTR predicted Stephenson to secure a four-year, $36MM deal on the heels of a dominant showing with the Rays. He was behind only Josh Hader and Jordan Hicks in the bullpen class among MLBTR’s Top 50 free agents. The 30-year-old has an inconsistent career track record but turned in a 2.35 ERA with an absurd 42.9% strikeout rate in 42 appearances after being traded from the Pirates to Tampa Bay in June.
Really wish he could’ve been good as a red, but at least he got his stuff together
WHY?? Sign back Wandy and call it a day with the pen. WAY more important issues to address in the Bronx.
Agreed unless theyvare trying to deepen a pen with losses to weissert and pitchers in a Soto deal kind of seems redundant with effross coming back but agreed resign peralta or another lefty hader??? And let’s go
The Angels should look into him
Absolutely. Soto is not enough obviously.
Yankees need this guy to reestablish their pen. That’s just the way it goes sometimes.
This guy was fixed by Tampa. Who knows what version you’re getting outside of Tampa’s couching staff and training protocols.
This whole Robert Stephenson craziness is a head scratcher. The guy was a below average pitcher, maybe average at times, from 2016 to June of this year. He goes out and has a good July, August, September and teams want to pay him 30M plus? Not to mention this guy was a complete head case with the Reds from the time he was drafted.
Hope the Astros pay hicks instead, if he wants to pitch at MMP that is. Either way, relievers are needed quite badly, not a whole lot of payroll space to work with though if the Astros intend to stay under the luxury tax.
It would definitely be cool to see him in pinstripes
What worries me is if the Astros sign him, it could be like another Montero signing.
Yankees already have Holmes, Lasagna, Effross, Kahnle, Hamilton and Maranaccio plus the forgotten Gil. All righties. We need a lefty!
Seems likely overpriced to where Hader would likely make more sense