5 starting pitchers the Yankees should trade for to fix their starting rotation

4. Alex Cobb

If the Yankees want to gamble on a pitcher with more upside they don’t need to look outside their own division. Cobb doesn’t have the track record to command a big return in a potential trade, but his performances this season have already turned some heads around MLB.

He’s already made three starts for Baltimore and is pitching to a sterling 2.51 ERA through 14 1/3 innings pitched. That’s not a huge sample size, but the reports emanating from his starts claim he’s showing excellent movement on all of his pitches. There’s reason to believe he’s headed towards returning to the excellent form he showcased at the beginning of his professional career.

The fact that Cobb is set to make $15 million next season could encourage the Orioles to make a deal. The Yankees would be comfortable with laying out that kind of cash in exchange for another year of team control. Remember, Paxton and Tanaka, are both headed for free agency. Cashman wants to acquire another starter who he can slot right into his 2021 rotation.

In a perfect world, the Orioles don’t want to deal Cobb to an AL East rival. That might complicate trade discussions slightly, but the Yankees have the kind of prospects required to get a deal done. Cobb won’t make huge headlines if he moves to the Bronx, but he can pay off big dividends for Aaron Boone and his coaching staff.