Yankees’ bullpen strikeout machine demanding raise—poised for a breakout in 2025 - lulu

Dominance in October

Leiter saved his best for the postseason, giving the Yankees 5.1 dominant innings with a 1.69 ERA. His splitter became the star of the show, a pitch that opposing hitters could barely touch. With a .099 batting average against and a 36.1% usage rate in 2024, it’s clear the splitter is Leiter’s bread and butter.

The Yankees might want to take a page out of their playoff playbook and lean heavily on that splitter moving forward. By reducing his sinker usage—arguably his weakest pitch—Leiter could drastically improve his overall effectiveness.

A Pitch Arsenal Built for Whiffs

Leiter’s pitch mix is one of the more intriguing aspects of his game. Alongside his splitter, he employs a sinker, curveball, and sweeper. The curveball and sweeper both had flashes of effectiveness last season, but neither is as dominant as the splitter. The Yankees’ analytics department could fine-tune Leiter’s pitch sequencing, emphasizing what works and ditching what doesn’t.

This kind of adjustment wouldn’t be groundbreaking—just look at how the Yankees have helped other pitchers unlock new levels of performance. Leiter already has the tools; he just needs a nudge in the right direction.

Arbitration Drama Looms

Leiter filed for $2.5 million in arbitration, while the Yankees countered with $2.05 million. While the $450,000 difference isn’t massive, that’s a nice chunk of change to argue over. If he can deliver on the promise he showed in October, that extra half a million might look like a bargain by midseason.

Leiter may not be Luke Weaver of Devin Williams, but every great bullpen or rotation needs its unsung heroes. With some strategic tweaks, he could emerge as one of the Yankees’ most valuable depth pieces in 2025, turning that splitter into a true weapon and leaving opposing hitters baffled.