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MLB free agency 2017: 5 teams who should take a chance on Greg Holland

By Joshua Sadlock

Sep 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland (56) pitches 12th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 5-4 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland (56) pitches 12th inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 5-4 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 18, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) throws to first base to check on a runner agaiinst the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) throws to first base to check on a runner agaiinst the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees are emerging as one of the favorites to sign Aroldis Chapman, bringing him back to the Bronx after a few months away in Chicago. If they are able to pull that off, the Yankees will have played the market to perfection, managing to extract a potential All-Star at shortstop in Gleyber Torres from the Cubs while still locking down Chapman for their next round of World Series contention. A major tip of the cap to you, Brian Chapman.

If the Yankees are able to get past Chapman’s $90-100 million asking price, they will still need a seventh-inning guy ahead of Dellin Betances. For a team without a top-end starting rotation, it is nearly impossible to contend without a three-headed monster in the back end of the bullpen. Betances also struggled down the stretch after Chapman and Andrew Miller were traded away, and his workload needs to be monitored in order to keep him healthy into his thirties.

It will be up to the Yankees to determine exactly how far along their “retooling” process is. If Cashman and the front office feel the team’s flirtation with the playoffs in August and September was more a mirage than a preview of 2017, perhaps Holland does not fit in the plans. The reality of the situation is that the Yankees are still at least two years away from emerging as a true threat in the American League, but punting on the next two seasons will be difficult. Signing him now, and then dealing him for more prospects down the road would also fit well with the team’s current strategy.

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