Yankees: Why they can still win it all without trading for another starting pitcher

Now I know it’s unlikely that either rookie will be getting a start in the rotation come playoff time, but for the rest of the season, both could play a big role in the chase for a division title. Once the playoffs do roll around I still believe that the Yankees have a good enough rotation to win a World Series.

The main reason being is their backed by arguably the best offense in baseball and the most dominant bullpen in the game. With the bullpen, there is no argument over their status among the game’s best and whether management makes a trade or not this Yankee team is going to heavily rely on their pen this postseason.

That was the case last October and this season the Yankees bullpen is even better and much deeper so they should be up for the challenge. All they’ll need is five to six quality innings from their starters and they already have the guys who can deliver just that.

That might be a lot to ask for but even if the starters don’t give the team much length the odds are that this Yankee offense will at least be doing their part. At the moment they lead baseball in just about every major slugging category and the crazy thing is they still have plenty of room to improve. Of course, the pitching will obviously be better come October, but this lineup is unforgiving from top to bottom and they can carry the team should the pitching falter.

Pitching to this lineup for nine innings is the toughest task in baseball. I know Houston proved they could do so in their home ballpark last October, but this year’s lineup is even better. Their starting staff might be able to limit the damage better than most teams can, but eventually, they’re going to have to go to their bullpen to get big outs. We know from watching last October and during their meetings this season that the Yankees own the Astros bullpen. The same can be said about the Red Sox pen as well.

These Yankees hitter punish opposing bullpens and because they make starters work so hard they elevate pitch counts so they can’t go seven or eight innings. As long as the Yankees can stay within striking distance before they can force a move to the opposing team’s bullpen I like their chances.

We know CC Sabathia can get it done in the playoffs after watching him throughout his career with the Yankees, especially last October. Lately, the veteran lefty has been outstanding and looks primed for another strong season. You know CC treasures the opportunity to pitch in the playoffs and this might be his last go around. He’s as trusted as anybody in this rotation to take the mound in a big game and at the very least he will keep his team in the game for as long as he’s in there.

The same can be said for Luis Severino in what will be his second postseason experience. Sevy is one of the front-runners for the Cy Young right now and he should be even better this October now that he has some experience under his belt.

He’s also probably the one guy in this rotation who can dominate a lineup deep into a game and really give the team some length. He had his ups and downs last October, but he’ll be more prepared and ready to go this time around and can be relied upon to carry this rotation.

Behind Sevy, it would be nice to trade for another ace or a clear cut number two, but I just don’t see anyone like that available on the trade market. I’d take Cole Hamels or J.A. Happ if it didn’t cost the Yankees much to get them but at this point in their careers there more like number three starters.

The Yankees may not have the clear-cut number two, but in Masahiro Tanaka, they do have someone who has proven he could shut down any lineup in baseball when he’s at his best.

That was the case last October when Tanaka not only pitched like a number two but also the ace of the Yankees staff. Because of his inconsistent performances during the regular season, people might forget that Tanaka was absolutely dominant last October. He was as big a reason as any for the Yankees almost making it to the World Series.

We’ll have to wait and see whether or not he can do it again, but if he’s healthy we know he’s capable of doing so. For some reason, Tanaka just seems to lock in during the playoffs and executes all of his pitches. I don’t know if it’s because of the extra day of rest you get sometimes during the playoffs but Tanaka was a different animal last October and Yankee fans should feel confident with him on the mound.

As for Sonny Gray, he has to be weak link among the Yankees four potential playoff starters. That was the case last season and based on his up and down performance this season you can expect the same. I wouldn’t say I necessarily trust Gray in playoff start, but there is potential for more as we’ve seen flashes of late (2.37 ERA in June) of how good he can be when he’s on his game.

Because of that, I think Gray will continue to improve and figure it out as the season goes on and once we reach October he can be a viable option as the fourth starter in the playoff rotation. Remember the Yankees gave up a lot to get Gray at the deadline last year so sooner or later the hope is that he can regain the All-Star form he once showed in Oakland. It’s not ideal, but I truly believe he is a better pitcher than what he’s shown and when you compare him at his best to guys like Hamels or Happ I’d take Gray.

With Gray as the fourth starter, it would leave the Yankees with the same exact rotation they had last year when they fell a game shy of winning the World Series. Yes, it’s fair to say they need more than these same four guys to make sure they don’t fall short again, but based on what’s available I just don’t see any better options.

That’s really what it comes down to especially when you consider how the Yankees will have to give away valuable prospects who can help them in the future in order to acquire another starter. Whether that’s an ace like Jacob deGrom (which isn’t going to happen) or lower-tiers option like Hamels or Happ the Yankees are going to have to give away pieces they’d like to hold on to.

For deGrom, they’d have to give up Gleyber Torres or Miguel Andujar, two All-Star caliber young infielders who have had a big a role as anyone on the team’s success up to this point. Who’s to say bringing in deGrom while losing one or both of their two rookies would make this Yankee team better equipped to win in the playoffs?

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Even for controllable young arms like Michael Fulmer or Chris Archer, the Yankees would have to trade one or two of their top prospects and I just don’t think any of them are worth it.

They have talented young players like Brandon Drury, Tyler Austin and Tyler Wade who they can afford to deal because of the abundance of talent they have throughout their system, but it’s tough to say whether a package involving those players could get a deal done.

It would probably take a higher level prospect like Justus Sheffield or Clint Frazier, two players who project to play a bigger role on future Yankee teams. Sheffield himself can possibly impact the rotation later this summer and Frazier still has a chance to be the Yankees starting left fielder in 2019 and the seasons to follow.

Unless the Yankees could get one of the aforementioned names for mid-level prospects I don’t think it’s worth pulling the trigger on a trade. That’s why the Yankees should try to win with players they have right now and save the prospects who can help them win multiple championships down the road.

Next: Will Justus Sheffield pitch in the starting rotation this season?

The Yankees are in the business of creating their next great dynasty. Of course, you have to win that first one to start a dynasty, but the Yankees have the team to do so this year. If there’s nobody out there that can make them any better than they already are than there’s no shame in standing pat.