This article could also have been titled “the State of the Yankee Rotation”, or perhaps even “When will the Yankees make a big move?”
Freddy Garcia signed a one year contract with the New York Yankees for at least a $4 million dollar payday. Considering the bargain that Garcia was for the Yankees last year (he only cost $1.5 mil), along with his consistency (he went 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA), there was no reason not to make this move again for this year. The 35 year old Garcia, as a back of the end rotation starter, provides the Yankees with valuable innings and stability.
The Yankees might make another move with a starting pitcher at some point but this signing makes it much less of a stressful situation for them. Already having recently re-signed their ace CC Sabathia, Garcia joins AJ Burnett, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova as probable starters for the Yankees. The Yankees also have some youngsters that they are closely watching by the names of Manuel Banuelos (20 years old) and Dellin Betances (23 years old). But all signs are pointing to them both receiving at least another year of minor league seasoning.
Banuelos only has had 7 starts at AAA and the huge Betances (6 feet, 8 inches tall!) has even less AAA experience with just 4 starts. It’s hard to imagine either forcing his way onto the team in spring training, and really there is no reason for the Yankees to rush them. When you closely examine the current starters in terms of their ages, the Yankees are doing fine with their combo of youth and experience. CC is 31, AJ is 34, Garcia is 35, Hughes is still only 26 and Nova is the baby of the bunch at 24!
While the Yankees are kicking the tires of most free agent pitchers I would say it’s 50/50 at best they sign someone else. Instead, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Yankees made a trade to upgrade their rotation. So far, the free agents pitchers currently on the market haven’t had much success in generating the interest and offers they want, and you can’t blame them for trying to get the Yankees involved. CJ Wilson, Roy Oswalt and Mark Buerhle’s agents have all talked to the Yankee brass in hopes of getting a bite… but so far the Yankees have resisted any such signings.
And, it seems, every week the Yankees are rumored to be involved with another pitcher. Last week the Yankees were supposedly talking to the Oakland A’s about Gio Gonzalez. This week’s rumor is the Yankees trying to trade for Matt Garza of the Cubs. Garza is intriguing, since he has previously pitched successfully in the AL East division and will be only 28 years old. But with the Yankees the rumors are non-stop and it’s impossible to take any of them seriously. After all, they are the only team in baseball where every rumor, no matter how ludicrous, is always a possibility!
The Yankees could be silently waiting to see how the situation with the Japanese phenom Yu Darvish shakes out… to see if he actually becomes available for the Major League teams to bid on. But it’s hard to see the Yankees going overboard for him after the colossal failures of past imports Kei Igawa and Hideki Irabu. No matter how much money an organization has, throwing away millions upon millions of dollars will make you gun shy.
Signing Garcia was a solid move, since a baseball team can never have enough arms, as the saying goes. I fully expect at least one more starter in the Yankee mix when the season starts. It’s just impossible right now to guess whom the Yankees will target next!
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