MLB Trade Rumors: 5 starting pitchers the Yankees can target to fix their rotation
![HOUSTON, TX - MAY 11: Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on May 11, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) HOUSTON, TX - MAY 11: Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on May 11, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/db37e1ffee02211faccc8e7be6da3b12f13ad391509a6e3bfc5e9f9bfa0697c8.jpg)
4. Michael Fulmer
Detroit’s ace is at the top of quite a few clubs shopping lists at the moment. The Yankees won’t be any different.. They will almost certainly kick the tires on Fulmer and see what the Tigers might require to part with him.
The price for Fulmer could be pretty high despite the fact that he’s only on a one year deal with the Tigers. At just 25 years of age, Detroit knows that he is the sort of player a new team will want to tie down for the long haul. The Tigers would like a team like the Yankees to pay dearly for that privilege.
The only concern is that Fulmer hasn’t been quite as good this season as he was during his first two years in the league. He hasn’t been bad, but he hasn’t been great either. An ERA of 4.35 in nine starts isn’t going to blow anyone away.
The Tigers will chalk this up to small sample size and they might be right. His career ERA is still just 3.57. Any team acquiring him should expect his performance to progress to the mean this season.
If the Yankees move for Fulmer it will be to set him up next to Severino atop their rotation for years to come. Cashman isn’t going to want to give up a ton to acquire him though. Dealing for Fulmer will be all about the price Detroit is asking. If the Yankees can get him without giving up a top prospect it’s a no-brainer. Paying more than that could be too risky for the club.