Yankees Have Multiple Bullpen Decision, Including One With Luis Gil

While the New York Yankees look to be in a really good position on the mound, specifically in the rotation, it's not unfair to say that they might have some problems that have to be fixed in the bullpen. 

It's been interesting that the front office didn't make the necessary moves at this year's trade deadline to improve the bullpen, at least at the level that we were all hoping for, but that's a decision the Yankees ultimately have to deal with now. 

They obviously didn't play great baseball in the postseason, but I don't think a lot of that was because of the lack of bullpen help.

Adding to the bullpen in the offseason is going to be a big priority for the Yankees if they do what's needed. However, there are also some interesting scenarios in which the Yankees could add guys who are in their rotation to that bullpen. 

Among the options recently suggested by ESPN, guys like Ryan Weathers, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil were floated as realistic candidates.

“Pitching was not the problem for the Yankees in 2026. They led the majors in staff ERA by a good margin. But while they have a surplus of starters, they'll need to fill out their bullpen again this offseason. As it stands, left-hander Brent Headrick is the only reliever under team control for next season who had at least 17 appearances in 2026.

“That could change soon. New York extended the qualifying offer to Bednar, who has until Nov. 17 to accept the one-year, $23.15 million deal. If he declines it, the Yankees could still re-sign him with a multiyear deal. The Yankees could convert their extra starters into relievers if they don't trade from the surplus. Ryan Weathers, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil are all candidates for the switch. Regardless, the Yankees, who have shown an elite ability to build strong bullpens without necessarily spending top dollar, will certainly add options this offseason,” Jorge Castillo wrote.

I wouldn't be surprised to see any of those three names end up in the Yankees' bullpen, but even if they want to go that route, it's important to recognize that the Yankees would be banking on their starters staying healthy throughout the year. 

If they head into spring training with guys like Schmidt and Weathers working exclusively out of the bullpen, ramping them back up to be full-time starters if players were to get injured might not be the best outcome.

The Yankees have a lot of time to figure this out, and ultimately, a lot of those decisions are going to come from what they decide to do in free agency and on the trade market, but it's at least positive to know that they have something in the back of their minds if they want to do so. I'd be really curious to see how guys like Gil look in an extended bullpen role, so I can see why the Yankees would be interested in doing this.