The New York Yankees are actively searching for left-handed bullpen help as Spring Training approaches. Despite exploring various options, they have yet to secure a left-handed reliever for their 40-man roster, a gap they likely want to fill before their Opening Day clash with the Milwaukee Brewers. One familiar name, Tim Hill, remains unsigned, possibly due to high salary demands. If Hill remains unattainable, the Yankees should consider Danny Coulombe, a lefty who delivered an impressive 2.12 ERA last season and brings both swing-and-miss capabilities and excellent damage control to the mound.
Why Danny Coulombe is an Ideal Fit for the Yankees’ Bullpen
Coulombe’s resurgence began after the Baltimore Orioles acquired him from the Minnesota Twins in a cash deal. The Orioles made a strategic adjustment to his pitching repertoire, shifting away from his faltering four-seam fastball and introducing a cutter. This pitch has quickly become one of his most effective tools. Though it has been hit hard at times, the cutter excels at generating swings and misses as well as critical outs. Over the past two seasons, Coulombe’s cutter has ranked as the seventh-most effective in terms of Run Value per 100 pitches among pitchers who have thrown at least 300 cutters.
This cutter laid the foundation for Coulombe’s dominance over the last two years. He recorded a 2.56 ERA during this period, the fourth-best among left-handed relievers with at least 80 innings pitched. The Orioles also helped him develop a sweeping slider, a pitch typically avoided by lefties due to its susceptibility to right-handed hitters. However, Coulombe’s version of the slider features an exceptional 49.3 inches of vertical drop, allowing it to neutralize both left- and right-handed batters effectively.
Coulombe’s unique high arm angle adds to the effectiveness of his sweeper, making it a devastating weapon. Over the past two seasons, he has struck out an impressive 28.4% of batters faced. His cutter and sweeper allow him to attack hitters on the third-base side of the plate, regardless of which side they bat from. Beyond these two pitches, his arsenal includes a four-seam fastball and a sinker, both of which average around 90-91 mph. While these pitches do not generate many whiffs, they create weak contact and contribute to his ability to induce outs.
In 2024, Coulombe’s four-seamer held opponents to an astonishing .077 slugging percentage, while his sinker limited them to .133. These pitches play a crucial role in Coulombe’s ability to stifle batters, complementing his primary offerings. Opponents managed just a .359 expected weighted on-base average on contact (xwOBACON) and a meager 4.7% barrel rate against him last season. In addition to his strikeout prowess, Coulombe excels at generating harmless contact in critical situations. His 48.6% ground-ball rate in 2024, while slightly lower than Tim Hill’s, demonstrates his ability to induce grounders when needed. However, the Yankees may value Coulombe’s ability to generate whiffs more highly, as they continue to prioritize strikeouts in their bullpen.
Building a Strikeout-Heavy Bullpen
The Yankees have made significant efforts to bolster their bullpen this offseason, adding high-strikeout arms like Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz. This focus stems from a decline in strikeouts by their relievers in recent years. Adding Coulombe would further enhance this strategy, giving the Yankees yet another pitcher capable of racking up strikeouts in crucial moments. A bullpen packed with swing-and-miss talent could be a game-changer, especially in high-pressure situations with runners on base, where strikeouts are invaluable for stifling rallies.
Coulombe’s presence would elevate an already formidable pitching staff, particularly in late-inning situations. While signing him alone would not complete the Yankees’ offseason checklist—they still need to address infield depth—it would bring them closer to assembling a complete roster. His addition would address their glaring need for a left-handed reliever, giving the bullpen a reliable southpaw who has posted a sub-2.60 ERA over the past two seasons.
A Unique Skillset for the Yankees’ Bullpen
Coulombe stands out as a cutter-first pitcher with a high release point, a combination that gives hitters a distinctive and challenging look. This unconventional approach could help the Yankees establish themselves as one of the top pitching forces in the American League. Additionally, Coulombe’s ability to limit walks is a crucial factor. In close games, where every baserunner counts, a pitcher who attacks hitters with confidence and precision is invaluable. Yankees fans will recall that their 2024 World Series hopes might have been different had their bullpen avoided issuing a walk to Gavin Lux in the 10th inning of Game 1. Coulombe’s reliability in pressure situations could provide the stability needed in high-stakes matchups.
The Perfect Short-Term Solution
Coulombe’s recent performance and skillset make him an ideal short-term solution for the Yankees’ bullpen needs. If his price aligns with the Yankees’ budget, he could fill their left-handed relief gap while offering exceptional strikeout ability, weak-contact inducement, and consistent command. His unique pitching style and versatility would complement the team’s existing relievers, making the Yankees’ bullpen a nightmare for opposing hitters. With Coulombe in the mix, the Yankees would significantly bolster their chances of contending in 2025.
