Yankees Are Only a Week In And Already The Team Needs Help

The Yankees are already digging themselves a hole with a 1-4 record and we’re only in the first week of the season. They have to turn it around early before things get out of hand, starting with pitching.

The Yankees look nothing like they did in Spring Training. Guys like Greg Bird and Aaron Judge, who were crushing in the Spring, have now seemingly disappeared this week.

The Yankees starting pitching, as we expected, has been their ultimate downfall. Tanaka has now had two bad outings; one that got out of hand early and the other almost letting the Orioles come back. Pineda was Pineda. The guy has shown he may not ever pan out. It’s still way early but come to the trade deadline the Yankees must get rid of him if he continues his losing ways.

C.C. Sabathia, in an absolute surprise, has pitched the best of any starter. He is the only Yankees starter to have a 0.00 ERA and a winning 1-0 record. Perhaps it’s because it’s a contract year, maybe it’s a fluke. Either way, Sabathia has been the only winner early, and hopefully, he can continue that with his second start.

If Brian Cashman expects the Yankees to be a Wild Card team, then you have to ensure they have the best chance of attaining it

With Gary Sanchez out now it’s likely the offense will dip a bit, even though he was struggling as well. The bullpen has also struggled these past couple games against the O’s, but I don’t expect that to be a trend for long. Bottom line–Tanaka has to be where the Yankees live and die.

If your #1 struggles for too long you have to start questioning whether or not he’s your #1. He, by all accounts, is an ace and needs to start pitching like one. Two disappointing starts is certainly a cause for concern because he’s given a lot of runs up in both. If this is the trend after a month’s play, the Yankees have to address this sooner than later.

Bottom line–Masahiro Tanaka has to be where the Yankees live and die. If your #1 struggles for too long you have to start questioning whether or not he’s your #1. He, by all accounts, is an ace and needs to start pitching like one. Two disappointing starts is certainly a cause for concern because he’s given a lot of runs up in both. If this is the trend after a month’s play, the Yankees have to address this sooner than later.

The Yankees Have to Know What They Expect

It is all based on expectations. If Brian Cashman expects the Yankees to be a Wild Card team, then you have to ensure they have the best chance of attaining it. The offense won’t be bad; the bullpen will turn it around, the starting rotation will be a mess. These are things Yankees management can expect.

Quintana makes the Yankees better now

Unfortunately, if this isn’t addressed rather early, the Yankees could be out of the run only a few months in. If Cashman doesn’t expect much out of this squad and any success is just icing on the cake, then you leave the roster relatively untouched. If he believes it’s an actual rebuild, you don’t make big moves. That means no Jose Quintana. If he believes in a playoff run, albeit brief, then that means you trade for a big name pitcher.

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The Yankees certainly have the farm system to pull off a big trade. And that doesn’t have to mean Quintana because this will be a high price to pay. It can mean they go after someone like Sonny Gray. He is injured right now, but when the trade deadline arrives, he should be fully healthy. He’s never quite put it together with the A’s, but he may need a change of scenery. He can be a nice addition to the starting rotation and will be an improvement over almost everyone other than a Tanaka at his best. He may not be dirt cheap, but I would assume he’s more reasonable than Quintana.

He’s never quite put it together with the A’s, but he may need a change of scenery. He can be a nice addition to the starting rotation and will be an improvement over almost everyone other than a Tanaka at his best. He may not be dirt cheap, but I would assume he’s more affordable than Quintana.

Quintana May Be The Answer

The problem is- this is a deadline move because he’s out now. If the Yankees wait until the deadline, certain trades might dictate a high price for pitching that they don’t want to pay. If they absolutely must Quintana is likely the best option for them. The division will be too expensive, that means no Chris Archer or Ray Odorizzi.

Video Courtesy of CBS Local.com

Quintana makes the Yankees better now. It just all depends on who and how much they have to give. It may be better to pull off a trade long before the deadline for three reasons: there’s no bidding war, the price is the cheapest it will be, and you get help while the season’s young.

The Quintana rumors have been done to death, and I don’t necessarily agree with this move, but if it gets the Yankees to Fall ball, it’s worth it. Especially if you can’t rely on Tanaka anymore, and certainly not Tanaka alone to get the job done.

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It all goes back to expectations. If Cashman expects the Wild Card, you have to make this trade or one like it. If he plans to rebuild, stand firm and make deals that help your future. One thing is certain: the Yankees need help early and that either has to come from the current roster or from the outside. If the current roster can’t do it, the Yankees must act soon and help the starting rotation.