One of the New York Yankees’ rumored free-agent targets could end up making a decision soon.
New York has been in the market for bullpen help but hasn’t been able to land a big-name hurler yet. The Yankees had the best bullpen in baseball last year but could end up losing a few of their top arms.
The Yankees have been linked to a handful of hurlers to help the bullpen but one of the most intriguing has been former St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays fireballer Jordan Hicks.
New York could use another reliever and Hicks has plenty of upside and a blistering fastball. It’s unclear where he will land, but his market reportedly is heating up, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
“Jordan Hicks market picking up,” Heyman said. “Most of the best relievers remain free. (Josh Hader) is the top guy but there are also Hicks, (Robert Stephenson), (Phil Maton), (Aroldis Chapman), Matt Moore, (Ryan Brasier), (Jakob Junis), (John Brebbia), (Shintaro Fujinami), (Brad Hand), and more.”
Hicks is just 27 years old and could be a perfect hurler to invest in to help the bullpen for years to come. He is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball and logged a 3.29 ERA in 65 total appearances last season to go with an 81-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
New York needs another high-leverage reliever and Hicks is one of the top arms on the market. It sounds like if the Yankees want him, they will have to make a move quickly.