Yankees persistently pursue several relievers from NL club before deadline

Although there are still 19 days left until the MLB transfer deadline on July 30, the rumor mill is starting to churn.

The New York Yankees are aggressively pursuing several relief pitchers from the Cincinnati Reds to bolster their bullpen in the coming weeks, sources told Sports Illustrated.

Cincinnati is doing its due diligence and currently has talent scouts stationed at Tropicana Field in Tampa for the Yankees’ series against the Rays from July 9-11.

While specific targets are not yet known, there are a number of names in the Reds bullpen that could make sense for the Yankees.

Veteran left-hander Brent Suter would fill the Yankees’ need for a left-handed relief pitcher and also has experience as a starter. The 34-year-old is making $3 million this year and has a club option for 2025. He’s struggled a bit in his last 10.2 innings (5.06 ERA), but has a 3.52 ERA in his nine-year MLB career. He doesn’t throw hard (averages 85.9 mph on the fastball), but doesn’t walk many players either, and uses four different pitches (four-seam, slider, changeup, sinker) in his arsenal.

The Yankees have a knack for getting the most out of struggling relievers. Just look back to the 2021 trade deadline when they acquired current closer Clay Holmes from the Pirates, who had a 5.57 ERA in 91 appearances in Pittsburgh.

Reds right-hander Lucas Sims is playing on an expiring contract and is making $2.85 million this season. The 30-year-old also has a 2.22 ERA in his last 22.1 innings pitched. Sims relies most on his slider and then his 94 mph fastball. He can also finish games when he needs to. However, he has some trouble stopping batters with walks (19 walks in 30.1 innings pitched this year).

Another right-hander with a cheap ($2.25 million) and expiring contract that could be interesting is reliever Buck Farmer. Farmer, 33, has a 2.74 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 42.2 innings in 2024. He’s another pitcher who has four pitches: slider (most commonly used), four-seam fastball, sinker, changeup.

Nick Martinez is due a total of $14 million this season and has a $12 million player option for next year. The 33-year-old is an additional option that can be used as a reliever or starter. He has already pitched 68 innings for the Reds, but has a 2.88 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP with just three walks in his last 25 innings. Martinez uses six different pitches and would give the Yankees some flexibility on their team.

Perhaps the Yankees could bring back their old friend, left-hander Justin Wilson, who is making $1.5 million before bonuses this year. The 36-year-old left-hander has a .292 opposing batting average this season but has posted a 1.35 ERA in his last 6.2 innings. New York actually traded Wilson and right-hander Luis Cessa to the Reds at the 2021 deadline in exchange for Jason Parker.

The best signing for GM Brian Cashman in terms of potential would be hard-throwing right-hander Alexis Diaz, 27, the younger brother of Mets star closer Edwin Diaz. He was also an All-Star in 2023. That move would be difficult, however, as Diaz is still under the team’s control for three years.

The Reds defeated the Yankees in a three-game series in the Bronx last week, and now the NL team could help them at the deadline by providing them with at least one reinforcement for their bullpen.