By Adeniyi Precious 
The Yankees and Cubs have been in the rumor mill for months now, especially after all the talk about a Cody Bellinger trade. Now, these two historic teams might be competing for the same free-agent pitcher – and it’s not your typical signing.
Both teams have been busy tweaking their pitching staffs this offseason. The Cubs grabbed Colin Rea and Matthew Boyd, while the Yankees went big by trading for All-Star closer Devin Williams and signing ace Max Fried. Pretty solid moves, right? But apparently, they’re not done yet.
Word is that both teams are looking at Brooks Raley, a left-handed reliever who’s a bit of a gamble. Why? Well, Raley has decent career stats – a 4.04 ERA and a 3.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio – and he was great for the Mets in 2023, posting a 2.80 ERA in 54.2 innings. The catch? He had Tommy John surgery last May and isn’t expected to pitch again until late in 2025.
Raley is 36, but his track record shows he can deliver. Over the last three years with the Mets and Rays, he put up a 2.58 ERA and allowed just 6.5 hits per nine innings. If he bounces back post-surgery, the Cubs or Yankees could get a top-notch bullpen piece just in time for the playoffs.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward situation, but if either team is willing to bet on his recovery, Raley might just be the bullpen boost they’re looking for. Let’s see which team rolls the dice first!