To quote a famous moment from The Great Gatsby, when the protagonist questions, “Can't repeat the past? Why, of course you can.” It’s hard to find a move in baseball right now that would feel like repeating the past, quite like the return of David Robertson to the New York Yankees. Well here we are to argue for a move that—despite Gatsby’s own unrealistic expectations—frankly makes too much sense for New York to not happen eventually.
First off, in case you weren’t paying close attention, Robertson
has yet to pitch in 2025. Although this hasn’t been said publicly, all indications are that he, at this stage in his career and at age 40, is very picky about the potential landing spot. Robertson will only return to a MLB mound in his own terms, almost surely pitching for a contender. He pitched well enough last year that if he wanted to take an offer from any team, it probably would have happened already and he’d be in the bullpen of a rebuilding team hoping to flip him at the Trade Deadline.
The initial reaction to Robertson’s selectivity is to rightfully wonder if this prolonged absence might hurt his performance once he eventually signs. While there is always that risk, this wouldn’t be the first time D-Rob took his time only to play a prominent role when the chips were down.
Despite having recovered from Tommy John surgery, Robertson missed the bulk of the 2021 season, briefly stepping away from the bigs to pitch for the U.S. national team in the 2021 Summer Olympics and only showing up in the majors in September to pitch for the Rays down the stretch. While his numbers with Tampa Bay were nothing special as he tuned up with a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings, Robertson showed up when it mattered most and tossed four scoreless frames for the Rays during the ALDS against the Red Sox.
More so than this short sample success, the fact that Robertson has gone through a similar experience gives any team that signs him a better perspective that he’ll be able to handle this.
At 40 years of age, part of what makes it somewhat baffling that Robertson didn’t sign with a contender right off the bat is that he was absolutely masterful last season, more than holding his own against even the toughest competition.
Robertson pitched an incredible 72 innings with a 3.00 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, and a 33.4-percent K-rate, his highest since 2017. He had a reasonable walk rate and only surrendered five homers all year long. Other than Kirby Yates, Robertson was quite easily the most important reliever in the Rangers' bullpen last season.
Expecting a replica of that level of performance might be a bit too optimistic, but anything remotely close to it comes as a fairly significant boost to a team that recently lost Fernando Cruz to an oblique strain and Mark Leiter Jr. to a stress fracture. Jonathan Loáisiga was/is someone the Yankees hoped could eventually take on a more important role, but the 2025 campaign hasn’t been kind to him as of yet. Between Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, and Tim Hill, the Yankees do have a solid core at the back end. But they do still look to be in need of improvements elsewhere, and D-Rob would only cost money rather than prospects.
The fact that Robertson is one of the franchise’s best relievers (and a Top 100 Yankee by our regard) is just a bonus. But it’s fun nonetheless. The 2006 draft pick was a second-year player when he played a key role on the 2009 World Series champions, and he stands as the last active member of that team. An All-Star setup man, he succeeded Mariano Rivera as the closer and stayed with the team until departing in free agency for the White Sox after 2014. During a sell at the 2017 Trade Deadline though, Chicago sent D-Rob back to New York and he spent another season and a half in the Bronx, becoming just the third Yankees pitcher to reach 500 career games after Rivera and Dave Righetti.
Roberts has a 2.75 career ERA and 2.73 FIP in pinstripes, and his 12.0 K/9 ranks second to team history to only Dellin Betances.
Robertson returning to the Yankees for a third and perhaps final stint would make for a wonderful coda to his long career. But it would also likely help the 2025’s championship chances. Again, since Robertson was good last year and only costs money rather than prospects, he’s worth writing the check.
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