Free-agent righty Lou Trivino threw a bullpen session for golf equipment in Florida Tuesday, experiences SI’s Pat Ragazzo. The incumbent Yankees had been readily available to have a look, as had been the Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, Reds, Royals and Guardians, per the report. That’s not an exhaustive listing of the groups in attendance, however it speaks to an honest degree of intrigue surrounding the 33-year-old Trivino, who’s on the mend from a collection of arm accidents which have stored him off an enormous league mound since 2022.
Trivino was traded from the A’s to the Yankees alongside Frankie Montas in 2022 and posted a pristine 1.66 ERA in 21 2/3 frames following his cross-country transfer to the Bronx. His 2023 season was torpedoed by an elbow damage that required Tommy John surgical procedure, nonetheless, and lingering elbow irritation in addition to a shoulder problem prevented Trivino from returning to the majors in 2024. He pitched 11 minor league frames as a part of a rehab project earlier than that shoulder problem popped up and shut him down.
At his greatest, Trivino throws exhausting, misses bats and picks up grounders at a wholesome, above-average price. He averaged simply shy of 96 mph on his four-seamer and sinker alike within the three seasons earlier than his elbow troubles, and Trivino has whiffed practically one-quarter of his MLB opponents whereas preserving 47.4% of batted balls towards him on the bottom. His command has by no means been glorious, evidenced by his 10.6% stroll price within the majors, however he was a key late-inning arm each in Oakland and, extra briefly, in New York. He sports activities a profession 3.86 ERA with 37 saves and 52 holds.
Ragazzo notes that Trivino was hitting 94 mph on his sinker within the exercise for golf equipment. That’s shy of peak velocity, however spring coaching hasn’t even begun. It stands to motive that Trivino may regain extra of that velocity with a ramp-up interval. A return to his 97 mph averages from early in his profession — and even the 95.8 mph he averaged in ’22 — isn’t a certainty. Nonetheless, it’s not less than comparatively encouraging that he’s already inside attain of his pre-injury velocity earlier than even attending to work with a crew.
Any of the golf equipment talked about may make sense as a match for Trivino, although if he’s in search of a transparent path again to the large leagues, the Dodgers’ veteran-laden bullpen most likely doesn’t supply that. (L.A. has a knack for maximizing pitcher efficiency, which appeals to a rehabbing veteran like Trivino.) The Yankees traded for Trivino as soon as and re-signed him to a serious league deal after non-tendering him post-2023. They like him, although they solely have three optionable relievers: Jake Cousins, Ian Hamilton and Fernando Cruz. The previous two had robust seasons within the Bronx in 2024, whereas the latter was simply acquired within the commerce of Jose Trevino.
