Even after the New Yankees made the colossal trade for Giancarlo Stanton, there is still work to be done. The Yankees pitching staff ranked fifth in ERA during the 2017 regular season at 3.72 and the staff had lots of success as a whole. Luis Severino blossomed into a true ace, finishing third in the American League Cy Young voting. Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Jordan and CC Sabathia all had decent seasons. New York acquired Sonny Gray at the trade deadline and he also made an important contribution.
Despite this success during the regular season and eventually the postseason, the Yankees are looking for starting pitching due to possible new personal. Jaime Garcia, also acquired at the trade deadline, will presumably not be re-signed. CC Sabathia wrapped up his seven-year contract this offseason and he might not be back. So, with all that in mind, new manager Aaron Boone will probably need another pitcher for the 2018 season. The Yankees are working that out.
One player that has been connected to the Yankees for a few days is Gerrit Cole. Cole has been connected to Yankee interest and is certainly not a bad option. In 2017, Cole had a down year going 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA on a bad Pittsburgh Pirates team. That said, he has had better years like 2016, where he pitched to a 3.88 ERA in 116 innings pitched. With Larry Rothschild, who has a good reputation in developing young pitchers, the Yankees could certainly revitalize Cole. Depending on what they would have to give up, Cole would be a solid pick-up.
Another starter that could intrigue that Yankees might be Lance Lynn. Lynn, although older than Cole at age 30, is a valid option for a back-of-the-rotation starter. In his first season back from Tommy John Surgery, Lynn pitching 186.1 innings with a 3.43 ERA in 2017. That is pretty good for a guy who just missed the entire 2016 season. Lynn is currently a free agent.
The Yankees will certainly have options; they have capable players available in trade and money for free agents. If anything, New York has to avoid the large contracts, as in the Tanaka, Sabathia contracts. It is simply a mistake and making it this offseason would not be the first time. Avoid Yu Darvish and do not turn your head in the remote direction of Jake Arrieta, Yankee fans. Find the diamonds in the rough like Cole and Lynn.
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