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5 free agents Yankees must sign to win World Series

By Joshua Sadlock

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 20: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals reacts at the end of the top of the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 20, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 20: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals reacts at the end of the top of the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 20, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rays won 8-3. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rays won 8-3. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

4. Alex Cobb

The starting rotation is not a hugely pressing need for the Yankees, but if a pitcher does fall into their lap, they will be happy to snap him up. Keeping Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia was great for the Yankees, but both come with uncertainty regarding their health and effectiveness. Tanaka was battered around for long stretches of last season before turning things around in the playoffs. Sabathia will be 38 in July and threw fewer than 150 innings in 2017. The big left-hander has made the necessary adjustments to continue pitching well as he ages, but expecting him to make it through a full season unscathed is unrealistic.

The market for starting pitchers has scarcely materialized this winter, and Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn both remain unsigned. Both have already had Tommy John surgery and come with questions about their ability to continue posting low ERAs in this age of longballs and launch angle. Cobb and Lynn would have gotten five-year deals only a few years ago, but they will have to settle for something much lower.

Adding another starter makes sense for the Yankees, especially if they are not ready to trust Jordan Montgomery with a full-time role. He was impressive at times as a rookie, but could be shielded in a six-man rotation. Tanaka and Sabathia would also benefit from more time off between starts.

Cobb has pitched his entire career in the AL East, and finally got healthy last year after missing nearly two years while coming back from his elbow surgery. The right-hander is still working on rediscovering full command of his split-changeup, but a full offseason spent throwing and not rehabbing could help him find “The Thing” again. Cobb is a solid fit for the Yankees, but they may have to find a taker for Jacoby Ellsbury to really make him a competitive offer as there are other teams with more pressing needs in their rotations that may be more willing to pay up.

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