Fansided

Why the Yankees can win without trading for a pitcher

By Rucker Haringey

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 4: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on before game two of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 4, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Players on both teams are wearing the number 42 to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, as it is the makeup of the game rained out on April 15. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 4: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on before game two of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 4, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Players on both teams are wearing the number 42 to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, as it is the makeup of the game rained out on April 15. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 13: Catcher Austin Romine #28 and pitcher Sonny Gray #55 of the New York Yankees talk things over on the mound in an interleague MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on June 13, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Nationals won 5-4 . (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 13: Catcher Austin Romine #28 and pitcher Sonny Gray #55 of the New York Yankees talk things over on the mound in an interleague MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on June 13, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Nationals won 5-4 . (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

4. Count on internal pitching improvement

Outside of Severino and Chapman there isn’t a pitcher on the Yankees squad who can’t improve their performance at least a little between now and season’s end. Of course, some pitchers have further to go than others.

The biggest opportunity for internal improvement comes with Sonny Gray. To say that he’s struggled this year would be an understatement. His current 4.98 ERA is almost a full run and a half higher than his career average of 3.57. There’s no physical reason his performance should decline so significantly at 28-years-old.

It’s possible he just doesn’t have the mental makeup to pitch in New York, but it’s too early to draw that conclusion. It’s certainly not out of the question that his performance could progress to somewhere near his career average as the year goes on.

Tanaka could also pitch better after he returns from the disabled list. His stuff is clearly diminishing at the age of 29, but his current ERA is still almost a full run higher than his career mark. It’s unreasonable to expect him to be an ace as the year goes along, but it’s entirely possible he can be an above average starter.

Gambling on internal improvement isn’t the sexy answer for the issues that plague the Yankees, but it might be the most logical path forward for Cashman and the team’s front office.

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