The New York Yankees have enough to worry about with their bullpen. Now they’re down another arm, even if it wasn’t one they were using in the big leagues.
Reliever Peter Strzelecki opted out of his minor league contract with the Yankees and hit free agency Tuesday, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman. The 31-year-old righty had a clause that let him walk if New York didn’t add him to the 40-man roster. They didn’t. So he’s gone.
Strzelecki spent this season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, putting up a 4.81 ERA across 24.1 innings. The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he struck out 29 batters against just five walks. That kind of control tends to get someone’s attention, especially with so many teams looking for bullpen help as the trade deadline approaches.
He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024, when he made 10 appearances for the Cleveland Guardians. Before that, he broke in with the Milwaukee Brewers and spent two seasons there, then had a brief stop with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees signed him to a minor league deal hoping he’d regain some of the form that made him a useful reliever in 2023. It just never clicked enough to earn a call-up.
Now he’s a free agent, and any team can sign him without giving up anything. That’s the kind of low-risk move a contender might jump on, especially with the bullpen market looking thin and prices reportedly high.
The Yankees bullpen has been a problem all year, even if the team’s 45-28 record doesn’t scream urgency. They’re still first in the AL East, but the relievers behind Clay Holmes have been inconsistent. Losing Strzelecki isn’t a disaster — he wasn’t on the big league roster — but it’s another reminder that the depth isn’t as deep as it looked in spring training.
New York starts a series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. The front office is reportedly still shopping for bullpen help. Strzelecki just won’t be part of that plan.
Whoever picks him up gets a guy who throws strikes and has a little big league experience. Maybe that’s enough. Maybe not. Either way, the Yankees have a few more things to sort out before the deadline.
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