New York Yankees Editorial: Mike Leake Could Be Most Realistic Target For Yankees

The New York Yankees currently have six capable starters, with news coming Tuesday that Adam Warren has been relegated to the bullpen.  They also have Luis Severino and Bryan Mitchell waiting in the wings, as potential rotation pieces.  With so much depth, one might ask, why are the Yankees heavily linked to starters and not middle infield help, where Stephen Drew and Didi Gregorius have both struggled.

The reason for this is that, even with the middle infield struggles, as a whole, the Yankees lineup has produced, while the rotation has not.  Each of the Yankees six starters, eight if you count Severino and Mitchell, have major question marks surrounding them, whether it is injury, fatigue, consistency, or simply lack of performance.

While some Yankees fans wouldn’t mind giving up Severino and/or Aaron Judge for Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels or Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto, with hopes that either ace could lead the Yankees through the playoffs, the front office seems reluctant to part with either prospect, and for good reason.

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Instead, look for the Yankees to target middle of the rotation help, leaving Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda atop the rotation.  That is if you take the word of former Mets GM and host of “Power Alley” on MLB Network Radio, Jim Duquette, who, speaking with NJ Advance Media, stated that another Reds pitcher, Mike Leake, could be the ideal target for the Yankees:

"If (Masahiro) Tanaka and (Michael) Pineda are pitching the way they’re capable, if they can maintain their health, to me, I think they could use a mid- to fourth-type starter. (Ivan) Nova, CC (Sabathia) can pitch like Nos. 3 and 4. They could use rotation depth. (Reds starting pitcher) Mike Leake, he’s a who guy knows how to pitch. He’s a Bronson Arroyo-type pitcher. I would love to see the Yankees go in that direction. Leake could handle New York. Cueto concerns me a little bit, he has all the upside but he has some health questions."

When asked about the aces, specifically Jeff Samardzija, Duquette goes on to state what many Yankees fans feel, that top prospects such as Severino and Judge should be retained:

"You’d have to give up a (Yankees pitching prospect Luis) Severino. That kind of defeats the purpose, that level of player to give back. I feel like Leake would be the best available, the best acquisition cost. That’s the best way to describe it, the best bang for your buck. You’re going to live and die with your team based on the heath of your top two guys anyway."

Duquette also goes on to state that further struggles from Tanaka, or an injury, could lead to a change of thinking by the Yankees front office, leading them to pursue an ace:

"If his struggles were to continue, it would force their hand a little bit. But I still think that he’s a guy that given the proper amount of rest, they’re still going with a six-man rotation for a time being. Once he figures out the mechanical issues there, he’ll be OK. Barring any setbacks with the elbow — it’s hard, in New York, if you have a bad start the elbow is going to come up. I get that. But I still — absent of a major drop of velocity, this guy is too good of a pitcher not to figure it out."

Leake would be an ideal target for the Yankees, as they would be able to hold on to their top prospects, and he is a free agent after the season, one who likely will not command a large salary.  Leake is also a great option in the middle or back end of the rotation, which is exactly where he would slot into the Yankees rotation.

With Brian Cashman stating today that Sabathia going to the bullpen isn’t even in consideration, Nathan Eovaldi would appear to be the odd man out if the Yankees do pull off a deal.  Leake would represent an improvement over Eovaldi, who has struggled with consistency.  Acquiring Leake would not be costly, in terms of prospects or money, and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if the six-year veteran is in pinstripes before the trade deadline passes.

Next: New York Yankees Editorial: The Yankees Living In The Past Is Hurting Their Present

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