The New York Yankees are on the brink of elimination in the ALDS.
They must win three consecutive games against the Tampa Bay Rays to keep their season alive.
That’s much easier said than done. If the Yankees lose on Wednesday night, the front office will turn its attention to the offseason and the club’s several impending free agents.
The list includes standout position players like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Trent Grisham, but closer David Bednar is also set to reach free agency.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicts that Bednar will re-sign with New York this winter and remain the backbone of its bullpen.
“Jazz Chisholm Jr. (137 G, 97 OPS+, 1.7 WAR) and Trent Grisham (121 G, 95 OPS+, 0.6 WAR) were the top upcoming free agents on the Yankees roster entering the season, but both had down years,” Reuter wrote. “Instead, Bednar (64 G, 35 SV, 2.47 ERA, 9.9 K/9) looks like the most impactful potential departure. He would be difficult to replace at the back of the Yankees bullpen.”
If he signs elsewhere, there are no obvious in-house candidates to replace Bednar as closer.
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With 65 scoreless regular-season appearances, Brent Headrick might be the leading man at the position.
New York’s bullpen could look very different next season, as Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, John Schreiber, Tim Hill, and Michael Fulmer are all free agents.
To retain Bednar will cost more than any of those relievers combined, but it might be worth it for the Yankees.
