Opening Day is almost here.
It's been a long offseason but Spring Training is in full swing and the New York Yankees have sky-high expectations heading into the 2024 campaign.
New York made some massive additions this offseason and is in a great spot heading into the season. One question the club still has is who is going to be in the bullpen.
The Yankees had the best bullpen in baseball last season but lost some important arms. New York made some intriguing additions, though.
One low-profile addition New York made who already is having a large impact is fireballer Nick Burdi, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden.
"It's not often a 31-year-old journeyman-type pitcher stands out in Spring Training but that's what Burdi has done this spring with the Yankees," Bowden said. "His stuff is overpowering but he's rarely been healthy over the past decade; when he has pitched, he's logged high strikeout and walk rates. He has a 98 to 100 MPH fastball from a lower arm slot to go with a slider and changeup.
"He's had two Tommy John surgeries and a surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, so health concerns will always be there, but he's struck out seven and walked one in three innings this spring as he tries to win a spot in the bullpen."
Burdi has appeared in just 19 games at the big league level throughout his career to this point but that could change in 2024. The 31-year-old has dealt with a plethora of injuries which has derailed his career but he's fully healthy now and is fighting for a spot in the Yankees' bullpen and it sounds like he may get one.
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