Why the Yankees allowed Wandy Peralta to go and what they plan to do in his place………..
On Wednesday,
Wandy Peralta inked a free-agency deal with the Padres, indicating the departure of one of the Yankees’ most dependable relievers.
Peralta was a rock star to the Yankees fan base and a liked figure in the clubhouse because to his quirky and clutch ways. He was a veteran who developed into a high-leverage weapon wearing pinstripes.
During his three-year stay with the Yankees, the left-hander recorded a 2.82 ERA, which was a notable improvement over his early-career output with the Reds and Giants. Since the Yankees acquired him from San Francisco in 2021, he has been a real top-tier relief pitcher in baseball, possessing a strong groundball-balling ability and an ability to get large outs.
In light of all of that, why did the Yankees let the 32-year-old to sign a free agent contract? The Yankees haven’t quite completed improving their bullpen. They spent the entire winter connected to Peralta and are currently searching for more upgrades at the location.
Considering that the Yankees’ salary in 2024 will already exceed $300 million, they have recently turned their attention to cheap relievers. Although a reunion with Peralta was still on the table, the Yankees are now focusing on veterans like Phil Maton and Ryan Brasier, according to a recent story from The New York Post. Keynan Middleton, an ex-Yankee, might also come back. All those relievers will be less expensive than Peralta; the Yankees surely reasoned this way when they passed on Hector.
With three opt-outs, Peralta’s contract with San Diego is valued at $16.5 million, or an average annual value of $4.125 million. The first person to report on Peralta’s agreement and the financials was Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
This starts to make more sense when you take into account the luxury tax penalties, the possibility that Peralta’s deal will last until his 35th season, and the Yankees’ capacity to add affordable relievers to their bullpen.
Even though Peralta pitched well in pinstripes, his statistics from the previous season had a few stark warning signs. It would have been dangerous to ignore Peralta’s 5.05 FIP,.220 BABIP, and the increase in his command problems. In 2023, opposing hitters made higher-quality contact with Peralta, and his projected metrics—such as his 4.70 xERA—all suggest that he will likely experience a decline in performance starting next season and beyond.Earlier this winter, the Yankees acquired Victor González from the Dodgers in exchange for Peralta, giving them access to another left-handed reliever to replace him in the pen. Only a few days ago, they added left-hander Matt Gauge off of waivers from the Astros. Rather than shelling out cash to keep Peralta around, it appears that the organisation believes they can get the most out of those southpaws and anybody else they sign this offseason.
