Nick Burdi was a new addition from this past winter, and while the Yankees will need more than him to improve this bullpen, getting him back could certainly help. This bullpen is running on fumes due to shorter outings from their struggling rotation, but with Burdi beginning a rehab assignment today in Scranton, the Yankees might be getting some relief help soon. The trade deadline is just one week away, so there’s plenty of excitement and intrigue surrounding who Brian Cashman could pursue to add to the roster.
With a power fastball that comes with shaky command, Burdi could be an interesting X-Factor once he returns to the Bronx.
Nick Burdi Takes Massive Step Towards Return to the Yankees’ Bullpen
Across 9.2 innings this season, Nick Burdi has a 26.7% strikeout rate and 1.86 ERA, which seems like exactly what the Yankees need until you look at his command. A massive problem with Burdi is his 20% walk rate, which makes it hard to trust him in high-leverage situations, but the stuff is remarkable and you could reasonably argue that his hip injury is what caused him to not get a feel of the ball.
Mechanics can be thrown out of whack pretty easily, and he re-injured his hip pretty quickly upon his brief return to the bullpen. The stuff is excellent and he could be a high-whiff reliever that the Yankees sorely need, but questions surrounding his health and consistency are more than fair. The upside is clear as day, with a power fastball that he releases from a funky arm slot and a dominant sweeper with a ton of horizontal movement at a high velocity.
If the Yankees can find a way to mold him into a somewhat consistent strike-thrower, we could be talking about a game-changer on the mound, but it comes down to his ability to stay healthy. The Yankees need the bullpen help, and guys like Caleb Ferguson likely won’t be on this team after the deadline with the reinforcements they have on the way and the trades they could make ahead of t July 30th.