3 pitchers New York can sign after missing on Justin Verlander

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros looks on during batting practice prior to game three of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Despite the MLB rumblings indicating Justin Verlander to the Yankees was a done deal, Verlander chose to stay with the Houston Astros. Here are 3 pitchers NY can now target.

MLB free agency is an exciting time of year as everyone who didn’t win the World Series plots about how they can accumulate the roster to make it happen next season.

The Yankees have been at the center of nearly every 2022 MLB free agent storyline, inquiring about players like Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander and Freddie Freeman.

Freeman resigned with the Braves yesterday to the tune of $190 million, and Verlander just agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal with the Astros.

Both Freeman and Verlander are at the top of their game, but that doesn’t mean they are the only free agents left on the market.

Here are three other pitchers the Yankees could still sign to address their needs on the mound.

3. Jon Gray

One simple option to address their pitching problems is to pick up longtime Colorado Rockies pitcher Jon Gray.

Gray has spent his entire MLB career with the Rockies, debuting with the team on Aug. 4, 2015.

Gray doesn’t have the storied career like Verlander has, but he is a capable pitcher for the Colorado team.

In 2021, Gray maintained an ERA of 4.59 in 29 starts, striking out out 157 batters in 149 innings. The Rockies finished the season second-last in the NL West with a 74-87 record.

The appealing thing about Gray is that he seems relatively easy to steal away from the Rockies so he can sign with New York. While Gray was available at the 2021 trade deadline, the Rockies didn’t trade him away, and he remained with the team until the end of the 2021 season.

However, Gray doesn’t have any qualifying offers attached with the Rockies, so the Yankees could ideally sign him for a cheap price.

Gray played for the Rockies last year on a one-year, $6 million deal, so the Yankees could sign him for pennies on the dollar while they continue to look for a stronger pitching candidate in the coming years.

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