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New York Yankees to have best bullpen in baseball

By Matthew Schoettler

Feb 23, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) walks back to the clubhouse after he pitched in the bullpen at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) walks back to the clubhouse after he pitched in the bullpen at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the addition of Aroldis Chapman, the New York Yankees enter the 2016 season with baseball’s best bullpen.

Last season, the New York Yankees had a dominant one-two punch in Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, but this offseason, the team managed to land All-Star reliever Aroldis Chapman in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. With three elite relievers on the roster, the New York Yankees should have the most dominant bullpen in baseball, usurping the Kansas City Royals from the top spot.

Next: Shelby Miller will never live up to price tag

The real question in the Bronx is who will be the closer heading into 2016? Andrew Miller served primarily as the New York Yankees’ closer in 2015. Moreover, Andrew Miller was adamant about being a closer wherever he chose to sign. Ultimately, the New York Yankees landed his services, and he thrived in his first season as a closer, registering 36 saves on the season (despite missing time due to injury).

Andrew Miller boasts elite stuff, and he showcased this by registering a 2.04 ERA, 2.16 FIP, 36 saves, and over 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Miller, definitely, did nothing to lose the closing role for the New York Yankees, but the addition of Aroldis Chapman questions whether or not Miller remains the closer in 2016. Despite Miller’s dominant 2015 season, Chapman managed to one-up Miller and post better numbers on the season.

As a member of the Reds, Aroldis Chapman registered a 1.63 ERA, 1.94 FIP, 33 saves, and a 15.7 K/9. Moreover, Aroldis Chapman throws harder than any other pitcher in the MLB, and he should be the favorite to assume closing duties in 2016. With Chapman closing, the New York Yankees have two options, either pitch Miller in the seventh or eighth inning.

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If the New York Yankees were pitch Andrew Miller in the seventh inning, that would allow the team to finish out games with a left-handed, right-handed, left-handed arsenal. However, the more likely scenario is for Dellin Betances to pitch the seventh innings, with Miller and Chapman ending games. Dellin Betances is no scrub either, as he registered a 1.50 ERA, 2.48 FIP, and 14 strikeouts per nine innings.

With no one at the tail-end of the New York Yankees’ rotation striking out less than 14 batters per nine innings, the Yanks are my favorite to win the A.L. East. Similarly to how the Kansas City Royals dominated over the past few seasons, the New York Yankees have the same opporunity; however, the New York Yankees have better starting pitching and relievers to open the 2016 season. The New York Yankees’ success is contingent on whether or not they provide enough runs to win ball games.

In recent years, bullpens have become a staple for success at the Major League level, and the New York Yankees are doing everything in their power to be a force in the American League. Hands down, the New York Yankees have the best bullpen in baseball, and it should translate to wins on the field in the upcoming season. The New York Yankees narrowly lost out to the Toronto Blue Jays for the A.L. East title, but the addition of Chapman should vault them to the top.

Currently, PECOTA has the Tampa Bay Rays as the favorite to win the American League East, but my money goes on the New York Yankees. They have a nice blend of starting and relief pitching, mixed with more-than-capable bats (i.e. Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira, and Jacoby Ellsbury). The one main obstacle in the New York Yankees’ way is health. With numerous veterans on the roster, the New York Yankees need to avoid the injury bug to win the East.

Next: Shelby Miller will never live up to price tag

With the addition of Aroldis Chapman, the New York Yankees’ bullpen is easily the best in baseball, and you can, pretty much, put any game in the books when the Yanks are up after the sixth inning. Although the New York Yankees had a relatively quiet offseason, they made moves that bettered the team heading into 2016. Do not sleep on the New York Yankees this upcoming season. The might just be ready to compete for a World Series.

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