When teams break the bank to obtain the services of top players, they are expected to provide a certain return on their investment. It becomes quite a setback when the athlete doesn’t perform as expected. Currently, the Yankees find themselves in a muddle amid the ongoing Devin Williams situation.
The Yankees are in dire need of the missing puzzle in the bullpen area, a lethal arm in the latter half of the inning. With the title race on the line, the Yankees cannot afford to fall behind their rivals, the Orioles and Rangers, who have invested heavily in bullpen arms.
During the encounter with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, manager Aaron Boone went ahead and replaced Williams with Luke Weaver. A move that we all saw coming, including Williams himself. But is this a long-term solution for the Yankees? Or just a quick fix? It does appear like tapering over a potential problem in the long run.
So now, what’s the next course of action for the Yankees from here on? Do they trade him off early in the regular season? A very rare situation in the MLB trade system. Under such circumstances, the name of Ryan Helsley is being thrown into the conversation as a potential fix to the problem.
According to reports from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Oklahoma-born closer is keeping a close eye on the trade market and is likely to be dealt with ahead of the trade deadline by the end of July.
With an urgent need for a closer in the Yankees’ lineup, Helsley certainly fits into the system as an elite game-changer. He has constantly proven his pedigree by regularly hitting 100+ mph fastballs. Furthermore, the Yankees do not have to worry about bloated long-term deals, as Helsley is still under team control through 2025 via arbitration.
Furthermore, ‘Hellz Bellz’ is coming off a dominant 2024 season with 49 saves as the MLB leader, a 2.04 ERA, and 79 strikeouts in 66.1 IP. More importantly, Helsley is a seasoned campaigner with the ability to pitch in high-stakes post-season scenarios. Provided Clay Holmes’ volatility and the lack of a true successor to Aroldis Chapman, Helsley’s ability to close games gives the Yankees the solution to their problems.
Now the question remains, can the Yankees realistically go after him? Well, it entirely depends on the kind of season the St. Louis Cardinals have. If they are out of contention ahead of the transfer market deadline, they might be open to offers for established stars like Helsley. Especially if they believe they can’t retain him as a free agent.
In the interim, Boone can look at the dugout and try out Ian Hamilton and Fernando Cruz, with Jonathan Loáisiga’s return from ACL injury also on the horizon. The names of David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates), Scott Barlow (Cleveland Guardians), Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox), and Tanner Scott (Miami Marlins) can also be thrown in as they fit the profile perfectly.
What does the future look like for Williams at Bronx?
This means that there will be plenty of options to choose from for Brian Cashman, but Helsley will surely be at the top of the wishlist for the Yankees. This would only hold if the Yankees decide to part ways with Williams, which is unlikely, given his record.
The move to replace Williams with Weaver is largely seen as a temporary fix, and it is expected that the former will retain his closer role and hit form sometime later in the season. Also, it is important to note that Williams’ transfer from Milwaukee came at a huge cost, bidding farewell to Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin.
But if William’s form continues to spiral down, the move to replace him with Weaver will be a permanent one, or the board will look elsewhere for the closing role. However, Cashman and co. will receive backlash for their trade strategies as fan frustration will continue to escalate. Worst-case scenario: Williams will be stripped of high-stakes duties, placed on the IL or trade block, and face immense fan and media criticism.
All in all, the upcoming times are interesting ones for the Yankees fans. What do you think the next course of action should be for the Yankees? Do let us know in the comments.
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