The Yankees announced Friday that they’ve signed left-handers Danny Coulombe and Rex Brothers to minor league deals with invitations to Major League Spring Training. Coulombe is repped by Elite Sports Group, and Brother is a client of Jet Sports. Max Wildstein tweeted the former signing, while Jon Heyman of Fancred had the latter (via Twitter).
Coulombe, 29, spent the past three seasons with the A’s, pitching to a 4.10 ERA with 8.7 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 1.09 HR/9 and a whopping 57.6 percent ground-ball rate. In that time, he’s held opposing left-handers to a weak .233/.298/.338 batting line through a total of 243 plate appearances. Coulombe’s FIP over those three seasons aligns almost perfectly with his ERA, though other fielding-independent metrics like xFIP and SIERA are more bullish, pegging him in the mid-3.00s.
Brothers, 31, made 28 appearances with the Braves across the past two seasons, though just one in 2018, and struggld across the board. The former No. 34 overall pick (Rockies, 2009) was once touted as Colorado’s closer of the future and even saved 19 games with a 1.74 ERA for the Rox back in 2013. Injuries have slowed Brothers’ career substantially, however, and he’s now looking to reestablish himself as a viable big league option after last experiencing success in 2015 (albeit in a small sample of 10 1/3 innings).
2 LH for bullpen dying for quality LH option outside Chap
If any of these make bullpen something went wrong lol
Brothers had an infinity ERA last year in one game lmao
Yeah but if you subtract that one outing his era drops to zero!!
Rex could be a good reclamation project. Very low risk, perhaps moderate reward type candidate. Good depth move imo. I totally agree though, if rex is in bullpen, something did go wrong.
The Coulomb Brothers
A sciency great name for a rock band.
They’d get a charge out of that name.
Another set of sexy offseason moves by the wealthiest organization in American sports. Way to increase those ticket sales, Cash!
NinjaCash
Do the rex brothers take up one roster spot? B’doom tish! I’ll be here all night.
Second best comment of the day. Hard to top “Machado about nothing” though.
Agreed. I’m pleased i’m even in the top 10.
Tbh we need an all time ranking
Machadouchebag.
I’m waiting for the yanks to add some more massive contracts… trade the farm
Away
We need Britton and Ottavino … if yanks don’t outbid world for them we are in trouble
Don’t worry. They will do what they need to. Just like Corbin
You’re the type of guy who would criticize them for going going 6 years $140M on Corbin and probably predict a Yu Darvish-like outcome.
Glad Cashman stuck to his guns.
There’s just no winning with you, Big Dan.
This guy pops up from time to time.
Who needs Britton or Miller? 2 FHOF brought into the fold. Welcome the new titles, boys.
Britton, Robertson, Kimbrel, and Ottavino are all still out there. Kluber, Bauer, Syndegaard, and Realmuto are all still available for the right package. Machado and Harper are still unsigned, as are Keuchel, Grandal, and Kikuchi. Many other trade targets out there to be found as well.
Point being, calm your jets. The Red Sox didn’t sign JD Martinez until February 26.
Pretty much every target the Yankees had outside of Corbin is still available, and they already made one surprise trade in Paxton.
Hard to even respond to 90% of your post..smdh
Yeah, because i’m right.
One of these guys will pitch to a sub 3.00 ERA through 30 innings this year in the show. Bold predictions.
Maybe Montgomery can be a quality pen option when he comes back? Hard to count on, but he was very solid as a starter before TJ
Actually they liked Brothers since he was in colorado. So I’m sure cash has done his homework on Rex. We need a lefty so it’s a great depth signing. Especially since Britton only wants to close and won’t sign here.
None of which is confirmed.
He’s a hard throwing lefty got potential….
Yankees dumpster diving for lefty relievers. Screw Machado and bring back Britton. Smfh.
Is this a joke? These are minor league deals. Good lord the knee jerks are out in force lately…
I know it’s so freaking annoying. I always thought people made too much about how we Yankee fans are but now I see it. Irrational for no reason. If Cashman feels someone’s price is too high then he’s going to pass. If we were a complete team and just needed 1 pieces then that might be different.
Besides, we still have 3/5th of what was the best bullpen in baseball last year. Green, Betances and Champan are your 7-8-9 guys. Bring in a lefty like Britton and I’m ok with it. We still have Holder who had a good 3.14/3.04 ERA/FIP in 60 IP last year. And we have other in-house options in AJ Cole, Domingo German, Chance Adams, Tommy Kahnle, Jonathan Loisaiga and Luis Cesa who can compete for the 6th spot in the pen next year. I would prefer to keep German, Adams and Loisaiga in AAA as starters but any of the 3 might turn into a dominant bullpen arm considering their velocity, which is already in the mid-90s, might play up more out the pen.
Also, we can second guess Cashman all we want but maybe Miller, Soria, Miller as well as Britton or Ottavino want to pitch somewhere that provides an opportunity for a greater role than what those guys would likely have in NY. And do we really want to have 4 guys in the pen earning over $10 mil each?
Bitter fans of other teams can’t take the facts bro
When other teams make moves like this it’s ok but if the Yankees do “OMG THEY IZ CHEAP !!!” Lmaoooo
Yankees fans want Machado/Harper. These signings aren’t even the equivalent of nice colorful socks but are white crew socks.
So the Yankees can’t sign minor league guys for depth but everyone else can ? gotcha …….
Yes but it’s not like the signing were in place of (add whatever FA they want). It’s a depth move. These guys will probably start the year in AAA.
And if they were to add Britton or whomever, I still don’t think it’s going to factor into whether or not they sign a six-figure FA.
That being said, I WANT Harper but if not would be happy with Markakis in LF, Britton in the pen, a Hechavarria or Iglesias at SS and further depth moves like these two guys.
The Yanks have to keep the minors stocked with talent in the event of injuries. These are players to fill out AA and AAA. They may never even sniff the majors, as the likes of German, Loaisiga, and Adams will be the first crop called upon if they’re doing well.
Cashman’s job goes beyond improving the 25 man. He has to try to assemble good talent at lower levels too, just as every other GM does.
I agree that Cash is filling some minor league depth. I believe he is getting beat to the punch by other teams in acquiring decent talent via trades and free agent signings. Now with Machado playing a waiting game,other options like infielders and relief pitchers may be off the board.I hope mgt. isn’t convinced Cole and Cessa are the options.Gray is still in board as well.Maybe Cash will resign Walker or a similar low cost option.Who knows ???