The New York Yankees‘ bullpen has been plummeting down the standings over the past few weeks. Despite maintaining a 3.57 ERA, ranking seventh in the MLB, changes are imperative. With the trade deadline just four days away, the Yankees have been linked to a number of bullpen arms, including Tanner Scott of the Miami Marlins. General Manager Brian Cashman certainly has his work cut out for him in improving the roster and addressing vulnerabilities.
Yankees’ Bullpen Struggles Necessitate Changes Ahead of Trade Deadline
However, the Yankees can start by designating Caleb Ferguson for assignment. The left-handed pitcher, set to be a free agent in 2025, was a former 38th-round pick in 2014 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. This season, the middle relief pitcher has been anything but solid.
Over 31.1 innings, Ferguson has recorded a 5.46 ERA, including 10.91 strikeouts per nine, a 59.5% left-on-base rate, and a 45.1% ground ball rate. However, his 4.02 walks per nine and 1.44 runs per nine have made him a liability in multiple categories.
Evaluating Ferguson’s Pitch Arsenal
Ferguson’s primary three pitches include a four-seam fastball, cutter, and slurve. Opposing batters have been teeing off against his fastball, which he throws at 93.7 mph and has resulted in a .289 batting average against with a .592 slugging rate. Hitters simply aren’t seeing any movement on his fastball, resulting in damaging contact. Despite being a well below-average pitch, he’s still throwing his fastball at a 54.3% usage rate.
Ferguson’s best pitch is his cutter, which averages 88.7 mph and has a .063 batting average against. It generates a 41% whiff rate and a 22.2% put-away rate. He may even consider using that pitch more frequently to offset some of the issues with his fastball. Additionally, his primary breaking pitch, the slurve, averages 80.9 mph and results in a .353 batting average against.
The Need for Decisive Action
The Yankees simply need more, and they’re getting better value from players off the street. They continue to lean on Ferguson, despite diminishing results.
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With a 4.62 expected ERA, it’s clear that Ferguson isn’t just getting unlucky; he’s genuinely underperforming in his appearances. He gave up another two earned runs in just 0.1 innings on Wednesday against the New York Mets. At this point, he can’t be trusted as a key component, and the Yankees need to make the tough decision to move on before he becomes a detriment down the stretch.