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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 20: Manager Ron Washington #37 of the Los Angeles Angels takes Hunter Strickland #60 taking Strickland out of the game against the Athletics in the bottom of the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on May 20, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

On Sunday afternoon, the New York Yankees played the Milwaukee Brewers (in Wisconsin) for the final game of their series.

For the second straight game, the Yankees blew a 2-0 lead.

They ended up getting swept (in three games) by the Brewers.

Erik Boland of Newsday Sports wrote: “Brian Turang hits a two-out bottom-of-the-ninth walkoff HR off David Bednar to dead center to send the Yankees to a 4-3 loss and a series sweep at the hands of the Brewers”

World Series Champion Yankees Must Consider

GettyHunter Strickland #61 of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona.

The bullpen for the Yankees has now come to light as a problem they will need to address if they want to make a deep run in October.

One player who could be a good (low-risk) addition to the team is Hunter Strickland.

He is coming off a season where he went 1-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 19 games for the Los Angeles Angels.

The 37-year-old recently became a free agent.

Taylor Blake Ward of Baseball America wrote (on May 5): “Angels announce they’ve released former big league relievers Angel Perdomo, Aneurys Zabala and Hunter Strickland, they have (re-)signed Joey Luchessi to a minor league deal”

While Strickland would not solve all their problems, he is someone who could provide stability to their bullpen.

Strickland’s MLB Career

GettyHunter Strickland #60 reacts with Logan O’Hoppe #14 of the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Angels won 4-0.

Strickland was picked in the 18th round of the 2007 MLB Draft.

He spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Francisco Giants, winning the 2014 World Series Championship.

Over 253 games with the franchise, Strickland had a 2.91 ERA.

GettyHunter Strickland #60 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Royals by a score of 7-1 to win Game One of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 21, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Following San Francisco, Strickland had stops with the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Angels over 11 seasons.

He has pitched in 16 MLB playoff games (and won a second title with the Nationals in 2019).

Over 499 career games, Strickland is 26-25 with a 3.39 ERA.

Up Next For New York

GettyAaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees heads to the dugout during the game against the Baltimore Orioles during their game at Yankee Stadium on May 02, 2026 in New York City.

With the sweep, the Yankees lost their spot as the top team in the American League East.

They are 26-15 in 41 games, which has them 1.0 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Following the Brewers, the Yankees will visit the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.

Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years.  He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar