Bomber Bites With Jumping Joe–Johnny Cueto Makes Sense for Yankees
By Joe Vitulli
Buster Only of ESPN wrote about how the Reds should try to trade ace pitcher Johnny Cueto this off-season. If he becomes available, the Yankees must try to work out a deal for the right-hander. After an injury-plagued 2013 season limited him to only eleven starts, Cueto has bounced back in a big way this season, making his first All-Star team. Cueto finished 4th in the Cy Young voting in 2012, after recording 19 wins and posting a 2.78 ERA. Cueto has actually had an ERA under 3 for the last four years. He is also enjoying the finest season of his career. If not for Clayton Kershaw, Cueto would be a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young. Cueto is leading the league in innings (227.2) and has 18 wins and an ERA of 2.33.
The Yankees will be in a strange spot this off-season. Their offense was their biggest problem this season, but there are few upgrades available and the Yankees are loaded down with long, big money contracts up and down the lineup. The pitching rotation is also in flux as it was devastated by injuries this season. However, as a whole, the replacement starters of Brandon McCarthy, David Phelps, Chris Capuano, and Shane Greene have pitched well. Nonetheless, the Yankees are expected to make a run at one or more of the Big Three free agent starters this off-season, Max Scherzer, Jon Lester, and James Shields. Still, if the Reds make Cueto available, the Yankees should try to make a deal.
Mandatory Credit: Chad R. MacDonald.
Cueto will be making a modest $10 million next season after the Reds pick up his option. The contracts for Lester, Shields and Scherzer will all be more than double that. The Yankees would get a one-year discount on the price for Cueto before signing him to an extension for the 2016 season. Cueto would be an excellent addition to the Yankee rotation, and could pair with Lester, who would be the best fit for the Yankees of the Big Three since he won’t have draft pick compensation attached to him, is left-handed and has proven himself capable of pitching in the AL East, to give the Yankees a dynamic top of the rotation. Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka can all be eased into the rotation as they recover from their injuries and youngsters Greene and Chase Whitley can provide depth.
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The price for Cueto might be steep, but the Yankees should have the trade pieces necessary to get the job done. An example of a deal might be Cueto along with Brandon Phillips and the $36 million owed him for the next three years in exchange for Brett Gardner, Gary Sanchez and either Greene or Bryan Mitchell. The Yankees would then instantly have a replacement for Robinson Cano at second in Phillips, Martin Prado can move to left and Jacoby Ellsbury can return to the leadoff spot for good, after spending most of the season in the three hole. The rotation would have the potential to be among the best in the majors, while still having the depth necessary to survive the long 162-game season.