OK, with Blake Treinen (maybe the best reliever in MLB in 2018, not good in 2017 or 2019) non-tendered today, there are rumors that NY is interested, although if they were willing to pay him his (approximate) $7.8M arb salary, they could have gotten him for a warm body, so I strongly doubt there is much to those rumors. This is the time of year that people repeat rumors but rarely examine how those rumored players might actually fit on the potential new team, so I thought it was a good time to start a bullpen thread, complete with years of control and options remaining, starting with Chapman.
Chapman (3 years, no options)
Britton (he has an unusual contract where NY decides after the 2020 season if they will exercise the $14M 2022 option. If NY decides not to, Britton can either opt for FA or stay with NY for $13M for 2021 before becoming a FA. He is out of options.)
Ottavino (2 years, no options)
Kahnle (2 years, no options)
Green (3 years, 1 option)
So those five are locks, and with the new 26 man rosters, NY will certainly carry 8 relievers most of the season. So there are three more spots, let's say two long guys and one more short guy. These are the other relievers currently on the 40 man.
Cessa (4 years, no options)
Loaisiga (5 years, 1 option)
Heller (4 years, 2 options)
Holder (4 years, 1 option)
Adams (6 years, 1 option)
Tarpley (6 years, 2 options)
Kriske (6 years, 3 options)
So looking at that, I do think that NY has the space to bring in a sixth short guy if they decide that is the way to go, but then they probably have to move Cessa because otherwise 7 of the 8 spots will be filled by guys without options (Green does have one, but unless he is awful again, I don't think he would be a shuttle candidate).
So for the last three spots as of now, I'd guess NY goes Cessa/Loaisiga/Heller (if they don't add anyone) or Loaisiga/Adams as the long guys plus Betances or Treinen or Hader (might as well dream big, and he is available). My guess is that extending Chapman was NY's only move to strengthen the bullpen this winter, they have five studs and plenty of other guys behind them eager for their chances (I didn't include any of the young SPs on the 40 man or any of the relievers not on the 40 man either, especially since some of the latter could get taken in the rule 5 draft next week).
Chapman (3 years, no options)
Britton (he has an unusual contract where NY decides after the 2020 season if they will exercise the $14M 2022 option. If NY decides not to, Britton can either opt for FA or stay with NY for $13M for 2021 before becoming a FA. He is out of options.)
Ottavino (2 years, no options)
Kahnle (2 years, no options)
Green (3 years, 1 option)
So those five are locks, and with the new 26 man rosters, NY will certainly carry 8 relievers most of the season. So there are three more spots, let's say two long guys and one more short guy. These are the other relievers currently on the 40 man.
Cessa (4 years, no options)
Loaisiga (5 years, 1 option)
Heller (4 years, 2 options)
Holder (4 years, 1 option)
Adams (6 years, 1 option)
Tarpley (6 years, 2 options)
Kriske (6 years, 3 options)
So looking at that, I do think that NY has the space to bring in a sixth short guy if they decide that is the way to go, but then they probably have to move Cessa because otherwise 7 of the 8 spots will be filled by guys without options (Green does have one, but unless he is awful again, I don't think he would be a shuttle candidate).
So for the last three spots as of now, I'd guess NY goes Cessa/Loaisiga/Heller (if they don't add anyone) or Loaisiga/Adams as the long guys plus Betances or Treinen or Hader (might as well dream big, and he is available). My guess is that extending Chapman was NY's only move to strengthen the bullpen this winter, they have five studs and plenty of other guys behind them eager for their chances (I didn't include any of the young SPs on the 40 man or any of the relievers not on the 40 man either, especially since some of the latter could get taken in the rule 5 draft next week).