Montas might have to become a bullpen piece, and he may have potential to be a good one, as he offers a put away pitch.
Consider our once illustrious bullpen:
1. Holmes - great when good, awful when not. Nevertheless, he's the closest thing we have to a closer, and he'll need to be counted on next season.
2. Michael King - from valuable and versatile bullpen piece to a potential all-star starter who will bolster the Yankee rotation next season behind Geritt Cole. Gone to starting rotation.
3. Wandy Peralta - a reliable and versatile option that will no doubt find another team in free agency. I don't see the Yankees resigning him for the price he will command. And, he's had some injury concerns this past season. Likely gone.
4. Ron Marinaccio - once seen as a possible closer has seemingly lost his command and his confidence, even at AAA. Still young and on the 40 man roster. Relies too much on his change up.
5. Tommy Kahnle - signed through next season, but has been on the IL twice this season. Looked wonderful when not hurt and not over-relying on his change up.
6. Ian Hamilton - Bright spot of the Yankees' bullpen, able to pitch multiple innings if needed. Chad Green-like demeanor on the mound. Injury concern. Yankees will need him next season.
7. Jonathan Loaisiga - Nasty when healthy. Just never healthy anymore. Arbitration eligible next season. Will the Yankees invest in his talent after only 17.2 innings this season?
8. Albert Abreu - a Cashman favorite, who has amazing stuff and nothing between his ears. Best in mop up duty in a blow out. Awful allowing inherited runners to score. Not reliable. Likely gone.
9. Jimmy Cordero - incredible arm, now facing penalty for domestic violence. Likely gone.
10. Nick Ramirez - Pretty good against lefties but will likely never be a late innings guy in the mode of Wandy Peralta. Doesn't have the fastball or the change up. Slider and not much else.
11. Greg Weissert - I'm just not sold on this guy being able to pitch inside to right-handed batters. Until he figures that out, he'll never trusted in the role of Chad Green or Michael King.
12. Keynan Middleton - finished on the IL and is a free agent next season. He was the replacement for Cordero. I wouldn't mind seeing him return but he walks too many batters. Likely gone.
13. Randy Vasquez - love his stuff but he walks too many batters. Still, I can see him stepping up next season to becoming a reliable bullpen piece, but he has the repertoire to be a starter if needed. He could be special.
14. Jhony Brito - love his demeanor on the mound, and he should compete for a starting spot if there are injuries in the rotation out of Spring Training; if not, he has already shown to be a good bullpen piece. Yankees need him to step up even further, as the bullpen is looking injured, mercurial, and hardly lockdown due to poor percentage of inherited runners scoring.
15. Scott Effross - looked like a good pickup until lost to injury in 2022. Pre-arbitration eligible. No idea if or when he fits in.
16. Lou Trivino - looked pretty good until lost to injury in 2022. Not signed for next season. Eligible for arbitration in 2024. No idea if he will be resigned.
To me, this is not the reliable Yankee bullpen of old. Too often injured and not the strikeout machines we used to have. Lots of two seamers and change ups. No wipe out splitters, sliders, or riding overpowering four-seamers. We need more diversity in terms of release points, repertoires, plane changers, and stuff.
