Joel Hanrahan Comes Off The Yankees Board

The Yankees are the favorites to sign Joel Hanrahan for their bullpen.... aaaaaannnnnndddd's it's gone. The Yankees were said to be the favorites to sign Hanrahan to solidify the bullpen but missed out on the opportunity as Hanrahan signed with the Detroit Tigers today. Would have been a nice signing but not the end of the world, especially for a one year deal and only a max of $3 million if all incentives are reached.

Yankees Are Finalists For Joel Hanrahan

The New York Yankees are said to be one of the finalists for free agent relief pitcher and Tommy John victim Joel Hanrahan according to Jon Heyman. A couple weeks back Hanrahan threw a showcase for teams and was reportedly very impressive just twelve months removed from the surgery. The teams that are speculated to be finalists for Hanrahan include the Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, Red Sox, and Rockies.

At his showcase Hanrahan was hitting 92 and 93 MPH on the radar gun, which is down from his average of 95 MPH but not enough to be discouraged this far removed from Tommy John surgery, and showed up in excellent shape physically.

The Yankees bullpen, assuming Hanrahan is healthy and available right away, would be pretty stacked with the addition of Hanrahan with Adam Warren, David Robertson, Shawn Kelley, and Dellin Betances. Hanrahan is expected to sign a major league deal and likely a one year deal to showcase his stuff and his health before going back out on the market for 2015.

Sign him up Cashman.

Cafardo: Yankees "Best Bet" To Sign Hanrahan

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe the New York Yankees seem to be the best bet to sign free agent relief pitcher and closer Joel Hanrahan. The former Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox closer is seto to showcase his arm in Tampa, Florida for teams on Thursday just eleven months removed from Tommy John surgery. The Mets, Angels, Rockies, Rangers, Royals, Athletics, Red Sox, and Rays are expected to join the Yankees down in Tampa next week. I think this would be an Andrew Bailey type signing where we sign him to a two year deal eating the 2014 season to have an incredibly deep bullpen in 2015, and I like it.

Joel Hanrahan To Pitch For Teams Next Week

Reliever Joel Hanrahan, 11 months removed from TJ surgery, will hold a showcase for teams next week, says a source.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) April 11, 2014

Free agent closer Joel Hanrahan, most recently of the Boston Red Sox, will throw next week for interested teams in hopes of landing a deal. Jerry Crasnick listed the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays as the teams interested in the right handed former closer.

Hanrahan is 32 years old and a mere 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery so a minor league deal seems likely so obviously I am interested if I am the Yankees, no such thing as a bad minor league deal. Hanrahan also had his flexor tendon repaired and bone chips removed in the same May 16 surgery so that is worth mentioning as well.

I called for the Yankees to go after Andrew Bailey, and they did, and I called for them to go after Ryan Madson if he would accept a minor league deal, and he wont, and I also said to go and get Hanrahan, perfect circle? We'll see next week.

Yankees Are "Monitoring" Joel Hanrahan & Ryan Madson

Okay it is now 100% official, Brian Cashman or SOMEONE inside the Yankees organization reads The Greedy Pinstripes and my posts, they have to. If you look HERE when I spoke about dumpster diving I mentioned the Yankees taking a waiver on the likes of Andrew Bailey, who recently signed with the team, Ryan Madson, Kevin Gregg, Oliver Perez, and Joel Hanrahan. Today news breaks that the Yankees are continuing to "monitor" Hanrahan after signing Bailey and are also looking at Madson. Are they simply signing up any former Boston Red Sox they can or am I next in line for a position inside the Yankees organization? Interesting...

Andy Martino broke the story on The Daily News that the Yankees recently sent scouts out to watch Ryan Madson throw. While the Yankees were impressed with his showcase they seem to think his price is "excessive" which means in Hal talk that he wants a Major League contract.

Hanrahan had Tommy John surgery last season and seems ready to contribute now or as late as May, not at mid season or later, and the Yankees and Mets are watching him closely. Hanrahan is entering his age 32 season and had the surgery in May so he is still nine months out from that surgery and also getting some bone chips cleaned up and getting his flexor tendon repaired. Hanrahan is already throwing off a mound and may be the best free agent option left that could be had for little to nothing and the Yankees need to pounce and pounce now.

If Brian Cashman Wants To Dumpster Dive, Do It Right!

The Yankees addressed their needs in the starting rotation, in the lineup, and somewhat touched on the infield but what about the bullpen? That same bullpen that lost Mariano Rivera, Boone Logan, and Joba Chamberlain and has done nothing to replace them. The Yankees have gone over the luxury tax yet again and are now content to dumpster dive to fill the roster and provide the team with depth. If the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman want to dumpster dive for the bullpen they at least need to do it right, pay attention. The longer the offseason goes on and the closer we get to the pitchers and catchers reporting, which is Friday February 14 by the way, the more likely it is that the Yankees can steal a couple of guys on cheap deals or minor league deals. I can't wait to see how these new acquisitions will affect the odds on the different betting sites listed at MyTopSportsbooks.com

Ryan Madson is 33 years old and, although two years removed from it due to arm injuries, has closing experience with the Philadelphia Phillies. During Madson's last full healthy season in 2012 he put up 32 saves, posted a 2.37 ERA, and pitched in 60 games. Madson is said to be hitting 93 MPH on the gun this offseason and finally looks healthy again.

Kevin Gregg closed games for the Chicago Cubs last season and although his ERA was high, 3.48, he still saved 33 saves in 62 innings pitched. Gregg is also 36 years old so he comes with experience closing with many teams including AL East teams the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. Gregg also only allowed six home runs in 2013 in a very home run friendly Wrigley Field in Chicago so he could translate well into Yankee Stadium in a 7th or 8th inning role. Plus he punched David Ortiz in the face, how could that hurt?

The Yankees don't necessarily need another left handed option with Cesar Cabral, Matt Thornton, and Manny Banuelos already in the fold but Oliver Perez has revitalized his career as a left handed specialist in the bullpen the last couple of seasons. Perez has a 2.93 ERA the last two seasons in 82.2 IP and has only allowed seven home runs, albeit in a pitcher friendly park. If we brought Perez to camp though I could see the Yankees dumping Thornton all together, here's to wishful thinking.

Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan can be combined here as they are both former closers, both former Red Sox players, and both coming off injuries to their arms. Bailey is still only 29 years old and Hanrahan is still 32 years old which means neither are old or have too many miles on their arms. Bailey, before coming to Boston, had 75 saves in his first three seasons and a 2.18 ERA before he became the heir apparent to Jonathan Papelbon. Hanrahan had 76 saves the two seasons before he was a Red Sox with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hanrahan was acquired to replace the injured Bailey only to lose his 2013 season to injury.

All of these men could come on minor league deals with invitation to spring training or very low risk one year deals with incentive laden contracts thus making them all attractive. With the closers role still technically up in the air and the Yankees bullpen looking rather thin on paper we could also offer interesting and attractive offers to these men. If Brian Cashman wants to dumpster dive sign more of men like these and less Cole Kimbal's please.