The New York Yankees have quietly gone about adding depth to their organization this winter, focusing less on headline-grabbing signings and more on calculated, low-risk acquisitions designed to strengthen the margins of the roster.
Rather than chasing splashy free agents for their minor league system, the front office has targeted players with meaningful time in the majors—veterans who have already shown they can compete at the highest level but may be looking for a reset or a fresh opportunity. These moves are best understood as reclamation projects, bets on experience and upside with the hope that one or two names separate themselves once camp opens.
This approach reflects a broader philosophy the Yankees have leaned into in recent seasons. By stockpiling players who have already navigated the pressures of Major League Baseball, the organization gives itself multiple lottery tickets without committing significant resources.
These signings rarely dominate offseason headlines, but they can pay dividends when injuries arise or when a previously overlooked arm suddenly clicks under a new coaching staff. Spring training, in particular, becomes the proving ground where such players can remake their reputations and force their way into consideration.
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One of the latest additions to fit this mold is right-handed reliever Dylan Coleman. According to New York Daily News reporter Gary Phillips, the Yankees agreed to a minor league contract with Coleman earlier this week. The deal carries little risk for New York but offers Coleman a chance to reestablish himself in a system known for maximizing pitching depth and leveraging power arms in the bullpen.
Coleman is not an unknown commodity. He has already accumulated several seasons of Major League experience, having spent three years with the Kansas City Royals between 2021 and 2023 before logging time with the Houston Astros in 2024.
Over that span, he demonstrated flashes of the high-octane stuff that once made him an intriguing bullpen piece. At his best, Coleman brings premium velocity and the kind of raw arm strength that teams are always eager to refine.
The high point of his career came during the 2022 season with Kansas City. That year, Coleman emerged as a reliable relief option, posting a strong 2.78 ERA across 68 innings. Even more impressive was the way his fastball played. Averaging 97.6 miles per hour, the pitch consistently overpowered hitters and hinted at late-inning potential. For a Royals club searching for stability in the bullpen, Coleman provided a rare bright spot, combining durability with swing-and-miss stuff.
However, consistency proved elusive in the seasons that followed. While his velocity remained eye-catching, command and effectiveness wavered, preventing him from fully cementing his role. After his stint with Kansas City came to an end, Coleman spent the 2024 season in the Astros organization, where opportunities at the Major League level were more limited. In Houston, competition for bullpen spots was fierce, and Coleman struggled to regain the momentum he had built two years earlier.
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By last year, his career had reached a crossroads. At 29 years old, Coleman signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles, hoping to pitch his way back into the majors. The outcome, however, fell short of expectations. He appeared in only 14.2 innings across stops with Double-A Chesapeake Baysox and Triple-A Norfolk Tides before being released in May. Limited opportunities and uneven results meant he never gained the sustained run he needed to showcase his abilities.
For the Yankees, though, Coleman’s recent struggles are precisely what make him an appealing target. New York is not asking him to immediately anchor the bullpen or fill a high-leverage role. Instead, the organization is offering a low-pressure environment where he can work with pitching coaches, refine his mechanics, and rediscover the form that once made him effective. If he can harness his velocity more consistently, even modest improvements could make him a viable depth option.
From Coleman’s perspective, the fit makes sense as well. The Yankees have a long history of turning overlooked arms into useful contributors, whether through subtle mechanical tweaks, pitch mix adjustments, or simply clearer role definition. A strong showing in spring training could quickly elevate him from minor league depth to a name worth monitoring, especially if injuries or workload concerns arise during the season.
Ultimately, this signing is emblematic of the Yankees’ broader winter strategy. By accumulating experienced players on minor league deals, they increase competition and flexibility without sacrificing future payroll or roster maneuverability. Not every reclamation project works out, but the cost of failure is minimal. If even one pitcher like Coleman finds his footing, the return on investment can be significant.
As spring training approaches, Coleman will join a crowded group of veterans all vying for attention. For him, the path back to relevance is clear: rediscover the command that once complemented his elite velocity and prove that his best days are not behind him. For the Yankees, the gamble is simple—offer opportunity, evaluate performance, and see whether another under-the-radar signing can quietly pay off when it matters most.
Yankees have a knack for identifying overlooked arms
In the last few seasons, the New York Yankees have quietly built a reputation for uncovering value where others see risk or irrelevance, particularly on the pitching side. Rather than focusing exclusively on high-profile arms or top-tier free agents, the organization has shown a growing willingness to invest time, coaching, and opportunity in pitchers who have been cast aside, overlooked, or miscast elsewhere.
This approach has not only helped stabilize the roster at a reasonable cost, but in some cases has produced significant returns that ripple across the rest of Major League Baseball.
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One of the earliest and most striking examples of this philosophy came in the form of Luke Weaver. Prior to his stint in the Bronx, Weaver’s career followed a familiar pattern for many pitchers who struggle to find a permanent role.
He bounced from team to team, primarily used as a starter, but never quite managed to establish consistency or fully meet expectations. Injuries, uneven results, and shifting roles kept him on the fringes of relevance. For many clubs, he was viewed as depth—useful in emergencies, but hardly a cornerstone piece.
The Yankees, however, saw something more. Instead of forcing Weaver to continue down a path that had already proven shaky, they reimagined his role entirely. Transitioning him into relief allowed his strengths to shine while minimizing his weaknesses.
Shorter outings meant he could lean into his best pitches with greater intensity, and the Yankees’ pitching infrastructure helped him refine his mechanics and approach. The result was a revelation. During the 2024 season, Weaver emerged as one of New York’s most dependable bullpen arms, delivering high-leverage innings and consistently giving the team a chance to win close games.
That success did not go unnoticed around the league. Weaver’s resurgence ultimately earned him a lucrative payday, as he signed a $22 million deal with the New York Mets during the offseason. For the Yankees, the outcome served as validation of their strategy: identify undervalued talent, put those players in positions to succeed, and trust that the system can extract value others failed to see.
Even though Weaver moved on, his transformation reinforced the organization’s confidence in its methods.
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A similar story unfolded with veteran left-hander Tim Hill, another pitcher few teams were eager to pursue. Hill entered New York’s orbit after being released by the Chicago White Sox, a club that endured one of the bleakest seasons in modern baseball history in 2024, finishing with a staggering 41–121 record.
Being let go by a team struggling so profoundly could easily have marked the end of Hill’s big-league opportunities, especially given his limited role as a left-handed specialist.
Once again, the Yankees saw an opportunity rather than a liability. Hill wasn’t asked to be something he wasn’t. Instead, New York leaned into his niche, deploying him strategically against tough left-handed hitters and in situations where his unique skill set could be maximized.
Supported by careful usage patterns and a clear understanding of his strengths, Hill proved to be an effective and reliable piece of the bullpen. His success further cemented the idea that the Yankees’ player development and coaching staff could breathe new life into pitchers many had already written off.
This backdrop makes the club’s latest low-profile pitching addition especially intriguing. On the surface, the signing of Coleman barely registers amid the flurry of blockbuster moves and headline-grabbing contracts that dominate offseason coverage.
He arrives without fanfare, without the expectations that come with a big investment, and without any guarantee of long-term success. To casual observers, it may appear to be little more than a depth move—a minor transaction designed to fill innings or provide insurance.
Yet, given the Yankees’ recent history, it’s difficult to dismiss the move outright. The organization has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to identify pitchers whose raw numbers or past results don’t tell the full story.
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Sometimes that means spotting mechanical tweaks that can unlock better command. Other times it involves redefining a pitcher’s role, adjusting pitch usage, or simply placing them in an environment where confidence and clarity replace uncertainty. In that context, Coleman’s arrival feels less like a throwaway signing and more like another calculated gamble.
Of course, not every bet pays off. For every success story, there are far more players who pass through a system without leaving a lasting mark. Realistically, the most likely outcome is that Coleman’s stint in New York ends quietly, producing modest contributions before the team moves on. Baseball history is littered with such cases, and even the best organizations cannot turn every overlooked arm into a bullpen standout.
Still, the possibility remains that this could be another move other teams look back on with regret. All it takes is the right adjustment, the right role, and the right timing for a pitcher’s career trajectory to change dramatically. The Yankees have shown they are willing to take those chances, trusting their process even when the rest of the league remains skeptical.
In the end, Coleman’s signing may fade into obscurity, remembered only as a footnote in a long season. Or it may become the latest example of how the Yankees continue to find value on the margins, turning overlooked pitchers into meaningful contributors. Based on recent precedent, cautious optimism feels justified—but as always in baseball, only time will provide the final answer.
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