On Monday, the New York Yankees announced their acquisition of left-handed relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson from the Los Angeles Dodgers. In return, the Dodgers received left-handed pitcher Matt Gage and right-handed pitcher Christian Zazueta.
After it was announced last week that Yankees had let their veteran lefty-reliever Wandy Peralta walk to the Padres, and a few days later, Keynan Middleton to the Cardinals, Yankees fans needed some reassurance regarding the bullpen, and this should certainly bring some reassurance.
Ferguson reinforces confidence in Yankees’ bullpen
Ferguson, 27, displayed an impressive performance in the 2023 season with the Dodgers, boasting a record of 7-4 along with three saves and a 3.43 ERA in 68 appearances, seven of which were starts. He achieved career highs in various categories, including appearances, innings pitched, strikeouts, and saves. Notably, he shared the highest number of appearances among Dodgers pitchers in 2023. Additionally, his 2.58 ERA over the past two seasons (2022-23) stands as the sixth-lowest among Major League left-handed relievers, considering a minimum of 75.0 innings pitched.
Compared to Peralta, who posted 8.5 strikeouts and 5 walks per nine innings, Ferguson posted 10.44 strikeouts and just 3.43 walks per nine innings in 2023—the eight highest K/9 among left-handed relievers in the entire league.
Following his absence for the entirety of the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery, Ferguson staged a notably remarkable comeback in 2022. In 37 appearances and 34.2 innings pitched that season, he boasted an impressive 1.82 ERA and recorded 37 strikeouts.
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Ferguson joins his former teammate and fellow LHP, Victor González, whom the Yankees acquired in an earlier deal in exchange for INF Trey Sweeney.
González, 28, recorded a 3-3 record with a 4.01 ERA (33.2IP, 27H, 15R/ER, 10BB, 30K, 2HR) in 34 appearances (including one start) with the Dodgers during the 2023 season. The left-handed pitcher limited opponents to a .223/.296/.331 (27-for-121) slash line and kept a clean sheet in 27 out of his 34 appearances with the team.
Throughout his three Major League seasons with the Dodgers (spanning 2020-21 and '23), González has posted a solid 9-4 record, along with one save and a 3.22 ERA (89.1IP, 72H, 32R/ER, 31BB, 86K, 5HR) in 93 games, including three starts. Notably, he has held opposing batters to a .221/.304/.313 (72-for-326) slash line.
The recently acquired former Dodgers are poised to become part of a bullpen featuring prominent figures such as closer Clay Holmes, along with Jonathan Loaisiga, Tommy Kahnle, and Ian Hamilton.
Ron Marinaccio, Luke Weaver, and Scott Effross also present viable depth, with Effross returning from Tommy John surgery in 2022 after his transfer from the Cubs.
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