The Yankees are already dealing with bullpen issues as spring training gets underway. Right-handed reliever Jake Cousins has a forearm strain that’ll keep him from throwing for at least a week, putting his Opening Day status in question.
While Cousins likely won’t miss extended time, the Yankees probably don’t want to start the season thin in the bullpen. That’s where the free agent market comes in – and there’s still plenty of relief help available in February.
One name that makes sense is Buck Farmer. The former Reds reliever is still out there, and he’s coming off a strong 2023 season. He posted a 3.04 ERA across 61 appearances for Cincinnati, racking up 70 strikeouts and setting a career-high with 1.7 WAR.
“While Farmer is set to turn 34 in the next week, he’s still pitching at a very high level,” wrote Newsweek’s Drew VonScio. “In a way, it’s still surprising he remains unsigned.”
Here’s the thing with forearm strains – they’re tricky. In today’s game, where Tommy John surgery seems more common than ever, teams have to be extra careful with any arm issues. The Yankees shouldn’t count on Cousins until they know more about his situation.
Farmer made $6 million with the Reds last year. If the Yankees can get him for less than that, it’d be a smart move to add some proven depth. The bullpen’s looking a bit thin right now, and bringing in a reliable arm like Farmer could help bridge the gap until Cousins returns.
