How many games will each Yankees goaltender start in 2024-25?
The New York Yankees have a decision to make for their closing picture for the remaining of the season. After a flawless start in April, Clay Holmes’ performance has spiraled. Leading the league with 11 blown saves just isn’t up to par for a team with big postseason ambitions. While Holmes has moments of brilliance, he’s proven too inconsistent to be trusted in high-stakes situations.
The Yankees can’t afford to rely on him to close out big games. It’s time for a change. So then who takes over? Manager Aaron Boone hinted the team will take a “creative approach” with the closer role, suggesting he’ll experiment based on matchups. Several intriguing options are on the table: veteran Tommy Kahnle, Jake Cousins sporting a 2.73 ERA, and the most exciting possibility in Luis Gil.
The Yankees have a strong history of turning relievers’ arms into gold, and Kahnle has delivered a stellar 2.00 ERA over 36 innings this season. However, Boone may hesitate to tamper with a formula that’s already working. Cousins is a tempting option but likely won’t be handed the reins in the postseason.
The highest upside lies with Gil. This could be a masterstroke by Boone with Gil’s electric velocity and devastating breaking ball giving him the potential to thrive as a closer. The real question is whether the Yankees are willing to move one of their top starters to the bullpen.
