New York Yankees will need to trade for a starter if they want to play October ball
The New York Yankees splashed copious amounts of money this offseason, adding the biggest free agents to the Bronx. Newcomers like Jacoby Ellsbury and Masahiro Tanaka have been great for the Yankees, but several injuries to starting pitchers have left the Yankees chasing the Toronto Blue Jays.
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With C.C. Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda all injured, the lack of pitching depth the Yankees have, has been exposed.
Currently, Vidal Nuno, David Phelps and Chase Whitley are the Yankees’ 3, 4 and 5 starters, which simply isn’t good enough for a team chasing a World Series.
If the Yankees are serious about winning a World Series, they will need to trade for a starter.
With quality starters like Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel and David Price all set to be moved, the Yankees will have to dig deep, and deal for a quality arm.
The Yankees don’t have the greatest assets to trade, however, they may have one or two desirable pieces for a rebuilding team.
They could potentially move either Ichiro Suzuki or Zoilo Almonte — with some decent prospects — to swing a deal for someone like Hammel.
A deal for Hammel could potentially allow the to challenge for a spot in the postseason, but if the Yankees will have to look to get Samardzija if they are serious about winning a World Series.
Trading for a top pitcher like Samardzija not only gives New York a quality starter to guide them through October, but also deprives rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays, of a quality arm.
If the Yankees do want a top arm, John Ryan Murphy or Mason Williams may have to be moved.
While it may seem like a steep price, the Yankees will need to make a big move if they don’t want to put their elaborate spending to waste.