Red Sox vs the AL East: relief pitching

Jul 20, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

5. New York Yankees

The Yankees have the most top-heavy bullpen of any name on this list as New York boasts three excellent late-inning relievers and then very little. Nobody is questioning the talent of young closer Dellin Betances (1.40 ERA, 13.5 K/9, 2.4 BB/9) or $40M man, former Red Sox lefty Andrew Miller (2.02 ERA, 14.9 K/9, 2.5 BB/9), or former Braves stalwart David Carpenter (3.54 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 2.4 BB/9). After those front three, things get a bit rough for the Yankees though.

From then on, the only names that will definitely make the team out of spring training are left-hander Justin Wilson (4.20 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 4.5 BB/9) and swingman Adam Warren (2.97 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 2.8 BB/9). The Yankees could easily be looking at some motley collection of guys like Esmil Rogers and Chase Whitley, both of whom are unproven and have not been successful in brief major league stints. There’s no denying that the Yankees have three (four if you include Warren) great relievers but their lack of depth will likely come back to bite them.