Five Ways the Yankees Can Shore Up the 2017 Pitching Staff

Adding Starting Pitching Depth

At the time, one of the most controversial moves of last winter was trading left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to the Detroit Tigers for two virtually unknown minor league pitchers. Now, it looks like yet another master trade by Cashman, and arguably the most important transaction of the offseason.

Wilson had been dominant (3.10 ERA and 2.69 FIP) for New York in 2015, but with so many injury questions among the club’s starting five, something needed to be done to give the rotation a safety net. Luis Cessa was excellent in Double-A, but got destroyed in Triple-A the previous year, and Chad Green was just OK for Double-A Erie.

There was little to suggest either could step right into a big league rotation this season and find success, but that is exactly what happened. The front office obviously liked something they saw from the pair and it paid off in a big way.

In his recent press conference, Cashman cited that trade as the type of move the Yankees will again look to make this winter. The team already has a number of talented, but unproven arms as candidates for the rotation in guys like Cessa, Green, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Severino, but that shouldn’t prevent them from bringing in more.

There’s no much thing as too much pitching. Guys will get hurt, struggle, and flame-out next year or even before. Dealing from their big league outfield depth seems like one move, maybe Brett Gardner to a team rich in young pitching like the Washington Nationals?

Another option is to cash in some of the talented, but far off position player chips in the lower-levels of the system for someone closer to the big leagues.

Sign an Elite Closer

Cashman specifically cited middle relief as one of the team’s major weaknesses, and it is hard to argue with that assessment. Outside of No-Runs DMC (with a late season cameo by Tyler Clippard) the team’s bullpen was a mess. For the second consecutive season, the “Scranton Shuttle” failed to produce a single quality arm that stuck at the major league level.

Similar to his approach with addressing the rotation, Cashman preached the value of depth recently regarding the bullpen:

My job is to get as much as we can find. In the front end of the season last year 7-8-9 was special … So my job is just to find as much quality arms, whether they’re fireballers or sidewinders or soft-tossers. The only important thing is getting outs and we had trouble getting outs in the middle (innings) there and that’s unacceptable. Continue to try to fortify. The more the merrier.”

The Yankees GM was notably silent on the subject of adding a closer, presumably because of the presence of incumbent Dellin Betances on the roster. However, with three of the top closers in baseball all hitting the free agent market simultaneously this winter, it is hard to believe adding one of those guys isn’t on Cashman’s agenda.

Many pundits consider it a sure thing that New York shells out to bring back Aroldis Chapman as closer. With Mark Teixeira‘s $25 million coming off the books, the team could presumably reinvest some of that back into the Cuban Missile while still cutting payroll for next season.

Trade for an Ace

When asked about using the Yankees newfound elite prospect depth for an ace (without naming any names of course), Cashman did not sound thrilled with the idea, although he did not dismiss it completely.

I think that type of deal is a deal where you’re that final piece away. I think we have an exciting young nucleus that’s coming … But there are some flaws, honestly, in this roster still. That doesn’t mean you can’t compete for a postseason berth. That doesn’t mean you can’t play in October. But the type of concept that you’re speaking of — I’m sure that everybody knows who you’re talking about by asking that question — but that to me (is a trade you make if) you’re an organization that’s one piece away, you back up the truck (and trade) four and five players. You have to be one piece away, and I would not recommend that type of decision as we approach the 2017 season. I think that would be dangerous.

Pairing an ace like Chris Sale, Chris Archer, or Sonny Gray would give New York an insane playoff rotation and possible make them the favorites in the AL East next year, but it would also open them up to a ton of risk. Prospects are also risky, but at least when you have four or five exciting talents, you are spreading some of that uncertainty around.

There’s a much smaller chance you end up with nothing, which is what would happen if you trade Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Clint Frazier, and Gleyber Torres to the White Sox for Sale and then he needs TJ surgery in July.

Going all in on a superstar is a bold move. It has its benefits, but I prefer Cashman’s strategy of slowly building up a sustainable core from within.

Promote from Within

With all the excitement surrounding the Yankees star position players, some of the strong pitching performances they received in the upper-minors are being overlooked. Dietrich Enns and Jordan Montgomery both but up insane numbers in the upper-minors and finished the season one step from the big leagues in Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

Enns is expected to be added to the 40-man roster this winter and Montgomery could force his way into consideration with a strong spring. Another possibility is converted reliever Chance Adams, who has a strong argument for having been the most dominant minor league pitcher at any level this year.

Cashman did not rule out the possibility of some of the organization’s younger arms pushing their way into the rotation next March.

We’re still young but we have other guys pushing their way into the mix, and we’ll see what they look like in Spring Training.

Yankees fans also should not rule out 22-year-old Luis Severino, even after his disappointing 2016. Cashman confirmed he will remain a starter in 2017, and he’s not that far removed from being the top pitching prospect in the team’s system.

(His performance in) the bullpen is not changing anything for me. That’s where guys go when they can’t be quality starters. I certainly hope that he can be a starter as we move forward. Certainly you’ve got to factor in and keep in mind his age. I think he’s 22, 23. But at the end of the day I have to have patience. I have to be objective that way. There’s a starter profile on him … He will get that opportunity (to start), whether it’s New York or it’s in Scranton next year remains to be seen.

Personally, I’d like to see what the team could get for veterans like CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda this winter and give some of these youngsters regular turns. Severino, Enns, Montgomery, Adams, Mitchell, Cessa, Green, and whatever other young starters Cashman brings in this offseason can fight it out behind Masahiro Tanaka.

Add a Veteran Innings Eater

If the team truly wants to make a serious run at the playoffs in 2017 without surrendering their prospect depth, they may be best served by looking on the free agent market for a solid number two or three starter so solidify the middle of the rotation.

That is easier said then done given the thin crop of pitchers and the number of aspiring contenders expected to be bidding for starters this winter. Jeremy Hellickson might make some sense. He’s on the right side of 30, coming off a strong season, and has had some success in the AL East with the Rays a few years back. The question is whether the team wants to invest the four years $60 million it is likely to take to land him.

Guys like Doug Fister, Bartolo Colon, Andrew Cashner, Brett Anderson, and Scott Kazmir represent the next tier of the market. Maybe the Yankees can land someone like that on a pillow contract? It’s not clear any of those guys represent much of an upgrade over their internal options, however.

Next: Yankees Could Look to Arizona for Pitching Help

The real wild card here is Rich Hill, but he hardly qualifies as an innings eater with 139.1 IP combined the last two years. As the only ace-caliber pitcher on the market, it will probably take something in the vicinity of three years $75 million to sign the 36-year-old lefty. It would be a fun move for the Yankees to make, but probably not a smart one.