As the New York Yankees continue to search for left-handed bullpen assistance ahead of the upcoming Spring Training, they remain active in exploring various available options. The team has yet to sign a left-handed reliever, and currently lacks one on their 40-man roster, something they likely hope to address before Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers. While Tim Hill remains a familiar option, his contract demands may be a sticking point, potentially pricing him out of a deal with any team. With that in mind, the Yankees might find a strong fit in Danny Coulombe, a left-handed reliever who posted a standout 2.12 ERA last season and brings an impressive combination of swing-and-miss stuff and solid damage prevention.
Coulombe’s path to success took an interesting turn when he was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles from the Minnesota Twins, who helped him refine his pitching arsenal. After shifting away from his ineffective four-seam fastball, the Orioles introduced him to a cutter, a pitch that has since become a reliable weapon in his repertoire. While his cutter did allow some hard hits last season, it was effective in generating strikeouts and securing critical outs. It also ranked among the top pitches in terms of Run Value/100 for cutters thrown over the past two seasons (minimum 300 cutters), showing its effectiveness.
Coulombe’s time with the Orioles has been marked by a dominant two-year stretch in which he posted the fourth-best ERA among left-handed relievers with at least 80 innings pitched, with a 2.56 ERA. In addition to his cutter, another pitch that came into prominence during his time with Baltimore was his sweeping slider, a pitch that many left-handed pitchers avoid developing due to its potential platoon splits. Despite the platoon risks that come with sweepers, Coulombe’s pitch is uniquely effective due to its 49.3 inches of vertical drop, allowing him to get outs against both right-handed and left-handed hitters.
Coulombe’s high arm angle adds to the effectiveness of his sweeping slider, making it a devastating weapon that has helped him strike out 28.4% of batters faced over the past two seasons. When paired with his cutter, he can attack both right-handed and left-handed batters on the third-base side of the plate. His fastball and sinker, which sit around 90-91 MPH, provide additional variety in his pitching approach. Though these pitches don’t generate many strikeouts, they allow Coulombe to generate soft contact, leading to important outs. His four-seam fastball held batters to a .077 slugging percentage, while his sinker limited opponents to a .133 slugging percentage. These softer-contact pitches complement his strikeout abilities and allow him to avoid giving up damaging hits.
In 2024, Coulombe allowed a .359 expected wOBA on contact (xwOBACON) and had a 4.7% Barrel percentage, both figures indicating that while he’s capable of striking out batters, he also excels at minimizing hard contact in crucial moments. He posted a solid 48.6% ground-ball rate last season, which, while not as high as Tim Hill’s, indicates his ability to keep the ball on the ground when needed. As the Yankees have been focused on improving strikeout rates across their bullpen this offseason, adding Coulombe would help address this need. The team has already acquired strikeout-heavy pitchers like Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz, and Coulombe could further strengthen their ability to shut down opponents in high-leverage situations.
Coulombe’s ability to miss bats and avoid walks makes him an excellent candidate to thrive in the Yankees’ high-pressure bullpen. His command is particularly valuable in close games, as evidenced by his ability to minimize free passes. This skill is especially important for the Yankees, who have been burned in the past by walks in critical moments. Coulombe could provide the reliability they need in late-game situations, helping prevent rallies and securing victories in tight contests.
Though adding Coulombe wouldn’t complete the Yankees’ offseason moves—particularly in terms of acquiring an infielder—it would significantly improve their bullpen. With a sub-2.60 ERA over the past two seasons, Coulombe would provide the Yankees with a capable and consistent left-handed reliever who brings a unique skill set to the mound. His cutter-first approach and high release point could give the Yankees’ pitching staff an edge over competitors, potentially making them a dominant force in the American League. If the price is right, signing Coulombe could prove to be the perfect short-term solution to the Yankees’ left-handed relief needs, helping to solidify their bullpen and position them as one of the top pitching staffs in the league.
