With Spring Training quickly approaching, the Yankees are actively searching for left-handed bullpen help and have been linked to several available options. Currently, they don’t have a left-handed reliever on their 40-man roster, a situation they likely aim to address before their Opening Day game against the Milwaukee Brewers. While Tim Hill remains a recognizable name on the market, his unsigned status might suggest that his asking price exceeds what teams are willing to pay.
If the Yankees continue to explore their options, they might consider signing Danny Coulombe, who delivered an impressive 2.12 ERA last season while showcasing both strikeout potential and strong damage prevention skills.
Why Danny Coulombe Makes Perfect Sense For the Yankees’ Bullpen
The Orioles acquired Danny Coulombe from the Twins for cash considerations and immediately revamped his pitch arsenal, replacing a struggling four-seamer with a cutter that quickly became a key weapon. Though it faced some hard contact last season, the cutter excelled at generating whiffs and clutch outs, ranking as the seventh-most effective cutter (by Run Value/100) over the past two seasons for pitchers who’ve thrown at least 300 cutters.
This adjustment laid the groundwork for an outstanding two-year stretch, during which Coulombe posted the fourth-best ERA among left-handed relievers with at least 80 innings pitched (2.56). Another significant addition to his arsenal was a sweeping slider, a pitch not typically encouraged for lefties due to its platoon splits. However, Coulombe’s version is different, featuring an impressive 49.3 inches of vertical drop, making it effective against both righties and lefties.
Coulombe’s high arm angle makes his sweeper especially effective, contributing to a stellar 28.4% strikeout rate over the past two seasons. Combined with his cutter, Coulombe attacks both sides of the plate with precision. While his four-seamer and sinker sit at a modest 90–91 mph, their contrasting profiles with his cutter and sweeper induce weak contact. Last season, batters managed just a .077 SLG% against his four-seamer and .133 SLG% against his sinker. Though these pitches don’t generate many whiffs, they play a critical role in his ability to limit hard contact, as evidenced by a .359 xwOBACON and a low 4.7% Barrel% against him.
Coulombe’s ability to generate soft contact is complemented by his respectable 48.6% ground-ball rate, slightly lower than Tim Hill’s but offset by Coulombe’s superior strikeout ability. The Yankees, prioritizing strikeouts this offseason, have already added Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz to bolster their bullpen. Coulombe’s swing-and-miss potential aligns perfectly with their strategy of building a bullpen capable of dominating in high-leverage situations and halting rallies with strikeouts.
Adding Coulombe to the mix could make the Yankees’ bullpen one of the most feared in the American League. His cutter-first approach and unique arm angle bring a fresh dynamic to their pitching staff, while his stingy 5.3% walk rate is invaluable in close games. The Yankees’ 2023 postseason collapse against Gavin Lux in Game 1 underscores the importance of avoiding costly free passes in critical moments.
While signing Coulombe won’t complete the Yankees’ offseason—there’s still a need for another infielder—it would address their left-handed bullpen deficiency with a proven performer. A reliever who combines a sub-2.60 ERA over the past two seasons, elite swing-and-miss potential, and strong contact management could be exactly what they need to take their pitching staff to the next level. If the price is reasonable, Coulombe could be the short-term solution that helps elevate the Yankees to the top of the American League.
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