Yankees Could Jump-Start Rebuild By Targeting Young Ace This Winter

The New York Yankees could attempt to speed up their rebuild by packaging some of their lower-level minor league talent for an MLB-ready young starter this winter.

Although youngsters Chad Green and Luis Cessa have looked excellent through their first few starts since joining the rotation, the New York Yankees probably shouldn’t be counting on the two rookies to sustain this level of success into 2017. They are nice depth pieces to have, but are probably better suited to be sixth and seventh starters.

Between the Nathan Eovaldi injury and CC Sabathia reverting back to his old ways, the Yankees have two proven MLB-caliber starters on their roster (and that is generously counting Michael Pineda, which I’m sure many fans wouldn’t).

The free agent market for starting pitchers is pretty bleak, and even mediocre guys were commanding pretty substantial multi-year commitments last offseason. The Yankees would probably be better served exploring the trade market to make upgrades.

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While New York certainly shouldn’t empty out the farm, they have accumulated quite a bit of talent, to the point where some of it could be expendable. In particular, they have a ton of very similar lefthanded hitting outfielders in the upper-minors and blue chip but raw shortstops in the lower levels.

Guys who are already at the show or right on the cusp should be held onto. There is absolutely no reason to listen on Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, or Clint Frazier. On the other hand, prospects who are insanely talented but who have yet to play above A-Ball like Gleyber Torres, Jorge Mateo, and Wilkerman Garcia are the types of players the Yankees should be offering in trades this winter.

With the core of an excellent offense seemingly in place for 2017-2018, New York could just be one frontline starter away from being a serious contender again. Masahiro Tanaka and Big Mike give the team a nice number one and three, they just need to find someone to slot in between them. Luis Severino was supposed to be that guy, but it certainly doesn’t look like he’s ready at this point.

Here is a list of pitchers with frontline starter potential who are playing on non-contenders and are under 28:

Jon Gray (24) COL- 4.69 ERA and 3.83 FIP in 126.2 IP

Tyler Anderson (26) COL- 3.69 ERA and 3.70 FIP in 78 IP

Sonny Gray (26) OAK- 5.74 ERA and 4.70 FIP in 116 IP

Chris Archer (27) TAM- 4.18 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 157 IP

Jake Odorizzi (26) TAM- 3.63 ERA and 4.14 FIP in 148.2 IP

Chris Sale (27) CWS- 3.15 ERA and 3.43 FIP in 168.2 IP

Jose Quintana (27) CWS- 2.85 ERA and 3.42 FIP in 157.2 IP

Julio Teheran (25) ATL- 2.90 ERA and 3.68 FIP in 139.2 IP

Most of these names came up at the trade deadline, with the exception of the Rockies’ pitchers, but ultimately weren’t moved. The pair of White Sox pitchers are the only two I would consider truly elite at this point. Chicago has no real reason to move either one at this point and were reportedly asking for five top prospects in return.

Atlanta says they want to contend in 2017 when their stadium opens and are seemingly looking to add to their big league roster, not subtract.

Gray and Archer were among the game’s top echelon of starting pitchers before confounding struggles this year. Any team looking to acquire them would probably have to surrender a package that assumes they are still aces, so the Yankees would have to be very confident they could turn them around.

Gray and Anderson are both former first round picks for the Rockies who have some big league success under their belt, although neither is anything close to an established ace. There is definitely enough promise to intrigue Brian Cashman however, and the move out of Coors Field can only help.

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None of these guys are a perfect match for the Yankees, but it does feel like they have to make some kind of move this winter. Anyone obvious I missed? Feel free to post your trade target in the comments.

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