The Underrated Yankee Bullpen Fix

Yankees fans, let’s talk about a name flying way under the radar this offseason: Danny Coulombe. Sure, he’s not the kind of name to light up Times Square, but hear me out—he might be exactly what this bullpen needs. After all, if there was one glaring issue with the 2024 Yankees, it was the lack of a reliable left-handed reliever. Tim Hill gave it a solid effort, but let’s be honest, adding Coulombe could be the missing piece.

Here’s the thing: Coulombe isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg. Spotrac projects his market value at around $1.2 million for a one-year deal. That’s practically pocket change for the Yankees. He’d come in cheaper than the $2.2 million he made in 2024, likely because of a midseason elbow injury. But don’t let that scare you off just yet—his numbers last year were eye-popping. In 33 games, he posted a 2.12 ERA. Even banged up, Coulombe was getting the job done.

Now, let’s rewind a bit and look at the bigger picture. Coulombe’s story is one of persistence. Drafted in the 25th round (yes, 776th overall!) by the Dodgers in 2012, he made his MLB debut in 2014. The early part of his career was a bit of a rollercoaster, bouncing between the majors and minors before finding some stability with Oakland. His 2017 season was a highlight, with 72 appearances and a respectable 3.48 ERA.

Yankees fans may vaguely remember his first stint with the team in 2018. It was… brief. He signed in December and was released by July. But since then, Coulombe has been on a bit of a journey. After some time with Minnesota, he was traded to Baltimore just before the 2023 season, and that’s where things got interesting. Over two seasons with the Orioles, he became a shutdown reliever, and a key part of their back-to-back postseason runs.

Here’s what makes Coulombe so effective: it’s not velocity—his fastball consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of the league. Instead, it’s his ability to limit hard contact and force ground balls, thanks to a wicked cutter that opposing hitters just can’t seem to barrel up.

The only real concern is that elbow injury from 2024. At 35, injuries can linger, and the Yankees would need to be sure he’s healthy before pulling the trigger. But if he’s good to go, adding Coulombe for just over a million bucks seems like a no-brainer. He’s affordable, experienced, and proven he can thrive in high-leverage situations.

So, what do you think? Is Coulombe the under-the-radar signing that could shore up the Yankees’ bullpen, or is the risk not worth the reward? Either way, this offseason has been wild, and speculating on these moves is half the fun.