The New York Yankees, despite boasting one of baseball’s highest payrolls, have endured a nearly 15-year World Series drought, capturing just one pennant since their 2009 championship. Last October, a combination of costly errors and manager Aaron Boone’s questionable decisions led to their defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic. Now, with perennial MVP contender Juan Soto defecting to the crosstown Mets, the pressure is mounting for the Yankees to reclaim their place atop the baseball world. Strengthening their bullpen could be a key step, especially in a fiercely competitive American League—and former Yankees All-Star **David Robertson** might be the perfect solution.
Robertson, who debuted with the Yankees in 2008, has had a storied career. He’s one of the few active players who can boast of pitching in the original Yankee Stadium. Now a free agent, the 39-year-old reliever is coming off a solid 2023 season with the Texas Rangers, posting a 3.00 ERA and striking out 99 batters in 72 innings—his highest strikeout total since 2011 with the Yankees. Despite his age, Robertson has remained remarkably effective, averaging a 2.82 ERA with 258 strikeouts over 201 innings in the last three seasons.
Surprisingly, Robertson is still available on the market. The Yankees, who already bolstered their bullpen by adding two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams this offseason, could benefit from pairing Williams with a seasoned veteran like Robertson, who knows how to handle the pressure of pitching in pinstripes. This wouldn’t be Robertson’s first reunion with the Yankees; he was reacquired in a 2017 trade that also brought Todd Frazier and Tommy Kahnle to the Bronx. That Yankees squad reached the ALCS before falling to the Houston Astros, a team whose infamous sign-stealing scandal has since tainted their legacy.
While Robertson would be one of the oldest players in the league this season, his experience and consistency make him a valuable asset for a team chasing its first World Series title in over a decade. For Robertson, it’s a chance to add a second ring to his collection—and for the Yankees, it could be the missing piece to end their championship drought. Age, after all, is just a number when you’re chasing greatness.
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