New York’s bullpen was a key weakness this season, and the Yankees tried to shore it up at the trade deadline. They brought in David Bednar from the Pirates and Camilo Doval from the Giants, who are expected to serve as closer and setup man in 2026. Despite these bold moves, the bullpen still struggled in the playoffs. Now, the Yankees are likely to be sellers again this offseason.

As the Yankees look to bolster their bullpen, reports have linked them to the Mets’ $74 million closer. Edwin Díaz. Even though it may be tempting to snag talent from their cross-town rival, the Yankees might want to think twice about signing this phenom.

Throughout his career, Díaz has had a puzzling pattern of alternating between standout seasons and disappointing ones. His yearly ERAs since 2016 form a clear trend.

Elite one year, erratic the next. Every other season, he flirts with a sub-2.00 ERA. But in between, his numbers balloon past 3.00.

The Yankees had bet big on closer Devin Williams heading into the 2025 season. However, his debut year in pinstripes didn’t quite go as planned. He finished with a 4.79 ERA across 67 appearances.

That’s a stark contrast to the three straight sub-2.00 ERA seasons he recorded before arriving in the Bronx. While Williams did manage to regain form in the second half, the Yankees now appear to have turned to David Bednar as their primary closer.

The 31-year-old closer is under contract through 2026 but could explore other opportunities after that. That’s why Edwin Díaz, also 31, has been mentioned as a potential long-term option for the Yankees’ bullpen.

In this trade buzz, Empire Sports Media’s Ryan Garcia emphasized that Díaz brings a level of consistency in key areas that goes beyond just one stat. According to him, Díaz is one of the top closers in the game. Across each of his last three seasons, he’s posted a strikeout rate in the 99th percentile or better.

Yet, there’s a real chance that Díaz would hit a downswing while with the Yankees. Especially with the kind of pressure that comes with pitching in a city like New York.

The Yankees had several late-inning collapses in 2025. So, if they’re investing in an elite closer this time, they might want to think twice when it comes to Diaz.

The Yankees could look to bring this closer instead of Edwin Diaz

The New York Yankees could look to add a veteran right-hander this offseason, someone versatile enough to fill multiple roles on the pitching staff.

In MLB Trade Rumors’ top 50 free-agent predictions, insider Darragh McDonald projected that the Yankees might land Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds.

Over the past four seasons, Nick Martinez has established himself as one of baseball’s most reliable swingmen. He’s equally comfortable starting games or coming out of the bullpen in high-leverage spots.

That versatility continued in 2025 with the Reds, where he logged 165 2/3 innings and posted a 4.45 ERA overall. As a starter, he put up a 4.72 ERA across 26 outings, while thriving in relief with a 2.61 ERA over 14 appearances.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Martinez is projected to land a two-year, $25 million deal this offseason. With Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole both sidelined as they recover from injuries, the Yankees need someone who can reliably eat innings early on. Martinez’s versatility makes him an ideal fit for that role.

If the Yankees do bring Martinez on board, they could choose to keep him in the rotation early in the season, depending on how he performs. Once Rodón and Cole return, shifting him into a bullpen role would make plenty of sense. For a team that could use a dependable veteran capable of contributing in multiple ways, that kind of flexibility is exactly what New York needs.