Forget Third Base, Yankees Need To Focus On The Rotation Now

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

#4. Paul Maholm

Think Chris Capuano 2.0. Why not bring Cap back rather than going with a similar version? Don’t count it out, but after being a part of the MLB Stars team that toured Japan in November, Capuano made it well known he wouldn’t mind taking his talents overseas and pitching in Asia in 2015 and beyond. Assume that will happen, so the Yankees need another cheap, left-handed alternative. Enter Maholm, who as recently as two years ago, put up 10 wins, with a bloated ERA of 4.41 with the Braves.

Maholm spent this past season in L.A. with the Dodgers doing swingman work, and posted an ugly 1-4 record with another over 4 ERA. The 32-year-old made $1.5 mil out in L.A., and can’t expect much more. He’d be lucky to get a big league invite to spring training, and this is exactly the type of move Brian Cashman likes when plugging the final holes of his roster. Maholm is durable when given a rotation spot, having gone over 150 innings pitched 8 times in his 10 year career. Lefties always play well at Yankee Stadium, of course unless your name is Vidal Nuno, then just forget.