Three Bounce-Back Pitchers the Yankees Should Target For 2016

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Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees have already made significant roster improvements this offseason, but one area that still needs to be addressed before opening day is the starting rotation.

Their rotation currently consists of rookie sensation Luis Severino, who will likely be on an innings limit, the oft-injured Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda who has yet to piece together a full season, Nathan Eovaldi who was shutdown for the remainder of the 2015 season due to elbow problems in his pitching arm, and the veteran CC Sabathia who is at the tail end of his career.

Cashman has done his due diligence by piecing together perhaps the best bullpen in baseball history to make up for his injury riddled pitching staff, but what good is a dominant bullpen if the starting pitchers can’t get them the ball with a lead?

Though Brian Cashman has insisted that he’s looking to upgrade his starting rotation via trade without spending money, you still can’t rule out the possibility of the Yankees signing a free agent.

That said, here’s a look at three free-agent starting pitchers who are poised for bounce-back seasons in 2016 that the Yankees should explore signing.

Next: RHP Doug Fister

1. Doug Fister, 31

Aug 3, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Doug Fister (33) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:

Brad Mills

-USA TODAY Sports

Two years ago Dough Fister posted the best full season of his MLB career, going 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA as a member of the Washington Nationals. However, 2015 was a step backwards for the 31-year old, as the 6-foot-8 right hander wen’t 5-7 with a 4.19 ERA before being demoted to the Nat’s bullpen for the last 10 games of the season. According to Fister, the reason for his poor 2015 was ‘mechanical issues’, and if there’s anyone who can overturn mechanical issues and turn a forgotten arm into a primed gem it’s Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

Exhibit A, look no further than Nathan Eovali, who was 14-3 before going down with a season-ending injury in 2015. Now before Eovaldi joined the Yankees, he was a hard throwing right-hander who was 19-48 with a 4.07 ERA in four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins. He looked like another hard thrower with little-to-no control of his lively fastball, and he wen’t from yielding the most hits in the National League in 2014 to one of the top-pitchers in the AL East in 2015 in under just one year with Larry Rothschild.

The Yankees might see a similar effect if they roll the dice on Fister and sign him to a one-year deal.

Next: RHP Matt Latos

2. Matt Latos, 28

Aug 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher

Mat Latos

(55) in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Latos was an absolute suitcase in 2015, spending time with three different major league clubs.

He started the season as the Marlins No. 2 starter behind Henderson Alvarez. After pitching to a 4-7 record with a 4.48 ERA, he was dealt from the NL East to NL West when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team 13 player trade in early August. Out in So Cal his struggles continued, as he pitched to an 0-3 record with a 6.66 ERA for the Dodgers before ultimately being designated for assignment and later released in September. In late September he latched on with the Anaheim Angels and pitched to a 4.91 ERA in two games out of the Halo’s bullpen.

Keep in mind that 2015 was the first time Latos pitched to an ERA over 3.50 since his rookie season in 2009 with the San Diego Padres, and on top of  that, the hard-throwing right hander is still in his 20’s.

Look for The Bledsoe Agency Client to have a prime bounce back season in 2016, and why not have it in pinstripes?

Next: LHP Cliff Lee

3. Cliff Lee, 37

May 7, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee delivers a pitch against Toronto Blue Jay at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Klentak’s first order of business as general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies was to cut ties with veteran southpaw Cliff Lee by declining his $27.5 million team option and paying the fallen ace $12.5 million just to buy him out of the ‘City of Brotherly Love.’

Unfortunately Cliff Lee missed the entire 2015 season with a torn flexor muscle after suffering an elbow strain in his pitching arm. Though the injury appeared to be career threatening at one point, the 37-year old veteran has been cleared by his doctors to resume throwing.

Now prior to getting injured, he posted a 3.65 ERA and 2.96 FIP over 81.1 innings for the Phillies in 2014. If he can comeback and post similar numbers, he would be an instant upgrade over three-fifths of the Yankees starting rotation.

Keep in mind the Yankees had a deal in place to acquire Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners back in 2010 before the deal fell through and he was dealt to the Texas Rangers. He also snubbed the Yankees in free-agency later on that year when he left their money on the table to return back to Philadelphia and rejoin the Phillies, so maybe the third time is the charm.

If the Yankees were to pursue Cliff Lee, Cashman would be wise to sign him to a minor league deal with major league incentives. However, the question is whether or not Cliff Lee, given his major league resume, would hold out for a major league deal instead of deciding to sign a minor league deal.

Either way, he would look damn good in pinstripes.

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