Brian Cashman’s Task: Find Pitching

It is no secret that the Yankees need pitching. In the starting rotation, CC Sabathia is having a CY Young season and is the only pitcher a Yankee fan can count on to pitch well in a big spot. We all know way too well how unreliable AJ Burnett is, and Phil Hughes is a serious question mark coming off his injury. Additionally, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon are Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon. Brian Cashman has gotten more than he could have ever imagined from the two, but there is no way the Yankees would feel confident throwing either in a playoff game.

At this point, the Yankees do not match up in the starting rotation with teams like the Red Sox, Philies, or Giants. Those are the teams that will most likely be standing in their way when attempting to collect a 28th World Series. It will be Cashman’s mission to attempt to bolster the starting rotation, but the question is with who. Recently we have heard the name Ubaldo Jimenez, but the Yankees would have to unload the farm system just to get him. Jimenez is only 27 and could clearly fit in well as a number 2 starter, but I do not see the Yankees giving up all their best prospects to get him. If this was the old Yankees with George making the decisions, I would think differently. Brian Cashman clearly has put more of an emphasis on keeping the teams best prospects. I also do not see the Rockies trading Jimenez unless they receive a king’s ransom.

The bullpen is solid from the right side, but they have no lefty presence. Boone Logan, who has been better against righties, is not the answer. Lefties are hitting .259 with 2 home runs against Logan, and that is not good enough from your lefty specialist. With the lefties in the Red Sox line up, it is essential for the Yankees to find someone who can throw from the left side. Again the question is who can they get. Most lefties who are any decent are on good teams. Teams out of the playoff race usually do not have lefties anyone would want.

Brian Cashman needs to get to work because with the way the team is currently constructed, they will not win a World Series.

By Rob Bonanni

@nypuddingsports