Fansided

5 starters Yankees need to sign to round out the rotation

By Rucker Haringey

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros reacts in the third inning as a play is reviewed against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros reacts in the third inning as a play is reviewed against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 30: Francisco Liriano #38 of the Detroit Tigers in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 30: Francisco Liriano #38 of the Detroit Tigers in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. Francisco Liriano

The Yankees should not sign the 35-year-old lefty with the expectations that he can dominate hitters like he did in his younger days. However, inking Liriano to a minimum deal as a potential sixth starter could really be a stroke of genius from Cashman and company.

Don’t let Liriano’s 5-12 record from last season fool you. He was an adequate pitcher for the Tigers last season. He managed to eat up over 133 innings with an ERA of 4.58. Those aren’t All-Star numbers, but they are better than what most teams get out of their fifth starter.

Unlike the previous pitchers on this list, the challenge for the Yankees when it comes to Liriano might be convincing him to sign with a team that won’t promise him a spot in the rotation. His stuff really isn’t well-suited for the bullpen so it’s probably starter or bust for the former Twins’ phenom.

That doesn’t mean the Yankees shouldn’t try to bring him to the Bronx. He’s still got quality stuff and he knows what it is to pitch well in big games. At the very least, he’d be a really good veteran option for the team to turn to when they need someone to make a spot start. Liriano might not be willing to take a deal from the Yankees yet, but there aren’t that many teams still interested in signing a starting pitcher.

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