As the New York Yankees progress in the Winter Meetings, the starting rotation must be an aspect discussed throughout the offseason’s busiest week.
The New York Yankees have found their designated hitter, do you know what’s next? Pitching, pitching and more pitching.From all the glaring question marks that have sneaked their way into the 2017 Yankees’ blueprint, nothing is more “unanswered” than the state of New York’s rotation.
Behind Masahiro Tanaka, who maintained the third best ERA in the AL in 2016, CC Sabathia,who’s coming off his season since 2012, and Michael Pineda who was the AL Leader in K/9, the Yankees have either unproven arms fighting for the final two spots.
One could also argue that Pineda — who is one of six players in MLB history to strikeout more than 200 but to manage an ERA over 4.80 — is unproven as well yet is a lock for the three spot. Just another obtrusive piece of evidence that judges the quality of the unit.
Competing for a place in 2017’s rotation is Luis Severino, who has to earn his way back after posting an 8.50 ERA in his sophomore year as a starter, Luis Cessa, who allowed 11 home runs in nine starts and Chad Green, who was shut down due to an elbow issue, and Mitchell, who has only made five major league starts.
You also can’t forget about the veteran Adam Warren, Jordan Montgomery, Dietrich Enns or other youngsters knocking on the door from the minors.
Sure there’s depth but is there stability?
ESNY broke down fitting starters that Brian Cashman could pursue to possibly bring an arm that can promote stability. Check it out:
Scott Kazmir
After retaining the services of Rich Hill, the Los Angeles Dodgers are shopping their other southpaw, Scott Kazmir.
The defending National League West champions have their hands tied in terms of free agents and mentioned they could not ink Hill without clearing a roster spot and the 32-year-old Kazmir has been linked to trade rumors.
Choosing to not utilize his opt out, he will make the $32 million he still is owed by the Dodgers for 2017and ’18.
After a brief resurgence in 2014-15 (3.33 ERA in 63 games for Oakland and Houston) Kazmir went 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA this year, averaging 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent’s slash line of .253/.327/.435.
The three-time All-Star was shut down on Aug. 22 due to a spinal condition and pitched just one inning against the Rockies on September before ending his season.
The stock of Kazmir should be slightly higher than others on the market due to his seasoning and ability to help in the bullpen, as well. However, this doesn’t look like a move the Yankees would pull the trigger on unless they seriously have to settle.
Hypothetically speaking, if the Dodgers’ had only one year left on his contract for less dough or even showed he is more than just your standard 4-5 guy, then it makes sense for the Yankees to ship some mid-level prospects so Los Angeles can make room.
Michael Wacha
At one point in November, Ken Rosenthal reported that the St. Louis Cardinals floated right-hander Michael Wacha’s name in trade talks but was skeptical as the talks were just to assess Wacha’s value.
Given his injury past, however, a huge package isn’t expected for the 2015 All-Star, a year in which the righty went 17-7 and maintained a 3.38 ERA over 181 innings of work.
Unfortunately, he has dealt with periodic issues with his right shoulder from as early as 2014 and had much to do with his 5.09 ERA over 138innings in 2016.
Although there was no major dip in his strikeouts per nine, his hit rate leaped from eight to 10.4.
Injury question marks could actually benefit the Yankees in this situation, as they won’t have to part with any of their highly touted youngsters while getting a pitcher with playoff experience just 25-years-old with three seasons of team control.
It could, or at least should be, your classic case of low risk, high reward because at his best, he’s the ideal number two but it just doesn’t make sense for the Yankees to give up an arm and a leg for Wacha.
Shelby Miller
Among NL pitchers who tossed at least 550 innings from 2013-15, Shelby Miller owned the seventh-lowest ERA despite owning a record of 31-35 (thanks, Braves!).
Unfortunately for Miller and his stock, he won just three of his 15 decisions for the Arizona Diamondbacks and gave up 127 hits in 101 innings following his All-Star campaign in 2015.
He was shipped to the minor leagues where he went 7-1 with a 3.30 in 10 starts between Triple-A and High-A ball.
In the past, New York has been able to pry out rotting struggles from Arizona and get massive success. Brandon McCarthy was 3-10 in 18 starts in the desert in 2014 but when shipped to the Bronx, he maintained a 2.89 ERA and struck out 82 batters in 14 starts.
Tyler Clippard fell off the grid as a consistent closer but when brought back to the team that drafted him, he maintained a 0.47 ERA in his first 21 outings including a .164 opponent’s batting average.
Of course, that’s by coincidence but Shelby has shown he’s dynamic and once was an innings eater. If Larry Rothschild can a work some magic with him, there’s a legit reason to think they could get him back to his old self.
Remember, he’s one year removed from an All-Star appearance and four years from a running in the rookie of the year award race.
James Paxton
Back at the deadline, Cashman and Seatle’s GM Jerry Dipoto were interlocked in talks about Gardner and despite the fact that Seattle wasn’t willing to surrender Taijuan Walker, they were ready to move James Paxton.
After talks faded and the deadline passed, Paxton went on to maintain a 3.26 earned run average over nine starts in August and September with 56 strikeouts in 55.2 innings of work.
Overall, the oft-injured southpaw tossed a career-high 121 innings while his fastball velocity jumped from 94.94 miles an hour to 96.89 in 2016, according to Brooks Baseball.
Plus, Paxton developed a sinker which Brooks Baseball registers at a jaw-dropping 97.10 miles an hour while batters hit a mere .176 off his cutter.
When healthy, it’s evident that Paxton is a steady threat to the opposition and on the flip side, Brett Gardner would be an ideal fit for Seattle.
The Mariners’ options in left and center consist of Guillermo Heredia and Leonys Martin. In 2016, the left field position for the M’s had -22 defensive runs saved (DRS) and an ultimate zone rating (UZR) of -24.9.
Gardner, who is nominated for a gold glove award, ranked second among qualified AL left fielders in UZR while leading them in DRS last season, according to FanGraphs.
If Seattle is willing to discuss Paxton, Cashman may have his ears open. After all, he’d be able to bring in a valuable asset in a league where solid left-handed pitching can be infrequent.
Gio Gonzalez
Gio Gonzalez is coming off a year in which he went 11-11 with an ERA of 4.57 but in the five combined years prior, Gonzalez won 84 games and racked up over one thousand strikeouts.
Last offseason, the Nationals talked in the offseason with the Arizona Diamondbacks but the trade fell after Arizona became stubborn about dealing Ender Inciarte or David Peralta.
Washington needs a speedy leadoff guy and the Yankees could use a starter with proven success in recent times to help balance out a questionable rotation. Cashman could possibly make a deal involving Gardner to obtain the lefty.
It also makes sense as the Nationals will have flexibility following a potential deal involving Chris Sale.
There is some risk, as Gonzalez doesn’t become a free agent until after 2018, but with a vesting option (which means he must reach 180 innings in 2017), New York won’t have to employ him beyond next season if he were to be unhealthy throughout 2017.
José Quintana
If you look up “innings eater” in the dictionary, José Quintana would likely come up.
Since making his major league debut on May 7, 2012, at age 23, the southpaw has totaled 951 innings in five years and since 2013, only Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, R.A. Dickey and David Price have pitched more innings than Quintana.
Additionally, he is one of only six starters to toss 200 innings in each of the past four years and they certainly have been effective (3.35 ERA in 129 starts).
At the very least, the 2016 All-Star has the ability to bring Joe Girardi a viable starter with the ability to go 200 innings or more — something they haven’t seen for quite some time.
In 2014, Hiroki Kuroda led the team with 199 innings and the following yer the six-win Sabathia did with 167.1. 2016 marked the third year in a row no Yankees’ starter reached the 200 mark, though Tanaka (199.2) came close.
He will warrant a decent return in top-notch prospects but given his two years of team control and relentless efficiency, the Yankees might pull the trigger for the kid they let walk as a minor-league free agent in 2011.
For the right price, he could very well compliment Tanaka as well as he’s done for Sale over the last few years.
What do you think, Yankees’ fans? Would you want to make any of these trades? Should Cashman pursue any starting pitcher listed above? Let your voice be heard in the comments below.