Yoshinobu Yamamoto Or Not, New York Yankees’ Strategy For ‘Super-Charged’ Bullpen Revealed

The MLB offseason is like a Pirates of the Caribbean movie, with different ships battling to reach the elixir of youth first. The name of that elixir is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a young 25-year-old who has taken the world by storm. The New York Yankees are specifically doing everything in their power to get the Japanese ace. But what if they’re unable to sign him?

It’s no secret that this is a steep battle for the Bronx Bombers. They’re competing with the New York Mets and the newly rejuvenated Los Angeles Dodgers, with the competition turning into a game of chance. What is the Yankees’ plan for the worst-case scenario? Could we be seeing a massive comeback for someone who everyone once thought had “no way home” to the Yankees?

If Yoshinobu Yamamoto doesn’t solve their problems, what happens to the Yankees?

Earlier in the week news emerged that the Japanese ace Shota Imanaga was being considered a possible fallback for the Bronx Bombers. That report can still come true but the club isn’t limiting itself to a single option. If Yamamoto goes to another team, the Pinstripes will try to reunite with the prodigal son – Jordan Montgomery, or so The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports.

The highly loved ex-member of the Yankees clubhouse, Montgomery was traded in 2022. What was thought to be a career downfall turned out to be a rebirth and Monty went from strength to strength, which culminated in a World Series championship last season.

As Rosenthal wrote, “A rotation without Yamamoto would require at least one more starter, and the Yankees, at least internally, have discussed a reunion with free-agent lefty Jordan Montgomery…The team also could seek to build what one source described as a “super-charged” bullpen.”

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As it stands, even if the Bombers do get Yamamoto, they will still be in the market looking for a pitcher.

Yankees learned their lesson after 2023

In overall stats, the Yankees’ pitching was decent this season. It was majorly carried by the Herculean efforts of Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole and to some extent Clarke Schmidt. With veterans like Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes Jr. suffering from injuries and bad form, the bullpen woes continued.

The only bright spot was the emergence of Michael King in the starting lineup. But he wasn’t fated to be in Pinstripes for long, because the club lost him in the trade deal for Juan Soto. With such a record, the Yankees need to get a pitcher irrespective of whether they get Yamamoto or not. 

So while the Yamamoto saga is continuing, the Yankees’ search for a pitcher is continuing in other directions as well.

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