The Yankees are eyeing bullpen help from a division rival, with The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner reporting they’ve shown interest in Rays left-hander Garrett Cleavinger.
It’s not hard to see why. Outside of closer David Bednar, there’s plenty of uncertainty in New York’s relief corps heading into 2026.
Camilo Doval has the stuff but struggles with command. Same story with Fernando Cruz. The Paul Blackburn re-signing? That’s depth at best.
Manager Aaron Boone needs at least a few more arms he can trust, and Cleavinger fits what they’re looking for.
“The Tampa Bay Rays have also made several trades this offseason, and it’s worth checking in on left-hander Garrett Cleavinger’s availability,” Kirschner wrote. “The Yankees have had previous interest in him, and Cleavinger’s 33 percent strikeout percentage would give New York another pitcher who could miss bats.”
Cleavinger’s Breakout Season
The 30-year-old southpaw put together his best season in 2025, posting a career-low 2.35 ERA while striking out a career-high 82 hitters in 61.1 innings with Tampa Bay.
That 33% strikeout rate tells the story. He’s not just getting outs – he’s missing bats.
Cleavinger also brings something the Yankees’ current left-handed options don’t: velocity. His average fastball sat at 96.5 mph last season, while New York’s lefty relievers on the 40-man roster – Brent Headrick, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, and Jayvien Sandridge – all throw considerably softer.
World Baseball Classic Connection
There’s an interesting wrinkle here. Cleavinger committed to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic last week, joining Aaron Judge, who’s captaining the squad.
Maybe Judge can do some scouting while their teammates. It wouldn’t be the first time a clubhouse conversation led to a front office inquiry.
The Rays have been active this offseason, making several trades as they continue thier cost-cutting approach. That could make Cleavinger available, especially with Tampa Bay’s history of moving players before they get expensive.
For the Yankees, adding a hard-throwing lefty who can miss bats would address a clear need. They’re looking for reliable setup options behind Bednar, and Cleavinger’s 2025 performance suggests he could handle higher-leverage situations.
The question is whether Tampa Bay is willing to deal within the division – and what it would cost to pry away a reliever coming off his best season.
