If the New York Yankees’ bullpen situation were different, this probably wouldn’t be a topic of discussion. But it is so bad right now that drastic changes must be made if they want a chance to make a postseason run. They just DFA’d DJ LeMahieu, so why not consider another such move?
Before he went on the injured list, Mark Leiter Jr. was arguably the main culprit, but it’s become clear the Yankees are running him into the ground anyway. They’re trying to get the most out of him before it’s no longer feasible for him to be utilized.
But next in line? Jonathan Loaisiga. He’s genuinely been terrible in 2025, and the Yankees made it a priority to pay him $5 million this year and give him an option for 2026 … after he pitched in a grand total of 70 games from 2022-2024. Multiple injuries. Multiple surgeries. He had one good year in 2021, and that was it. The Yankees couldn’t quit the right-hander.
Why can’t the Yankees quit Jonathan Loaisiga?
So far this season heading into Saturday, he’s subtracted 0.1 WAR from the team thanks to a 4.84 ERA, 5.64 FIP and 1.34 WHIP. He’s getting clobbered, allowing 9.7 H/9 and 2.4 HR/9. On Wednesday night, he could barely keep it together with four- and five-run leads. He’s allowing a .360 batting average and .888 OPS in high-leverage situations. The only pitch he’s utilizing that isn’t getting crushed is his curveball … and that’s not one he’s even known for.
On Saturday? Boone called upon him in mop-up duty with the Yankees down 4-0 in the seventh. Loaisiga gave up his seventh home run on the year (in 23 1/3 frames) and couldn’t last longer than an inning.
This is not the first time we are complaining about Loaisiga, which dates back to before the Yankees even signed him. He’s no doubt a talented pitcher, but he’s never consistently put it all together. And he’s almost always hurt. Welcoming him back into what was already a somewhat shaky bullpen situation after he had pitched 20 games over the last two years just felt completely wrong. There were so many other options to spend ~$5 million on.
It’s yet another puzzling move by the front office. The Yankees are not afraid to spend, but fan frustration boils over when they make bad investments and then cap their ability to make moves or upgrade. This is one of those situations because the Bombers passed on better bullpen options, and now likely won’t surrender premier assets to upgrade over Loaisiga at the deadline (and we don’t blame them for the latter, but it’s still an upsetting reality to deal with).
All we’ll say is this: since the Yankees are completely unlikely to designated Loaisiga for assignment, they better not exercise his $5 million club option for 2026. If there was ever a time to let him go, it’s this coming offseason, regardless if he rebounds or not. The Yankees have spent enough time waiting on Loaisiga’s potential and haven’t been rewarded properly.
