Yankees: Adding Dallas Keuchel could be key to title hopes

After a multitude of early season injuries, the Yankees find themselves in a hole — especially at starting pitching. Luis Severino won’t be back for an extended period, and there’s no telling how long C.C. Sabathia will last.

Dallas Keuchel needs to be on this team, now. Sure, the Yankees signed Gio Gonzalez, but he isn’t enough. As the adage goes, you can never have too much pitching. Keuchel adds depth to the starting rotation that the Yankees don’t have.

By signing Keuchel, the Yanks could utilize a six-man rotation throughout the season. The former World Series Champion with the Houston Astros still has plenty to offer.

Keuchel even says he’s open to taking less yearly money in return for a longer deal. Therefore, the Yanks should sign him for three years, with an option for a fourth.

Yes, a generous amount of impact players are on the injured list, but that doesn’t negate the fact that adding a former CY Young Award winner wouldn’t help even after everyone returns from injury.

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The trend in the league is that pitching — more so starting pitching, isn’t as crucial as it once was. Instead, a stout bullpen is the way to go. While I agree to some extent that a solid ‘pen is important, we can’t neglect the effect of getting at least five full innings from a starter.

I understand that the majority of the past few World Series winning teams had stellar bullpens — most notably the Kansas City Royals in 2015. But a bullpen is more heavily relied upon in the playoffs.

We saw it last year with the Bombers. The ‘pen was tired towards the last quarter of the regular season. Manager Aaron Boone would, and still does, call upon his relievers too often, which will eventually cause extended wear to the “strength of the Yanks.”

Adding a potentially dominant starting pitcher would not only aide the rotation but the bullpen as well. The Yankees ‘pen is one of, if not, the best in Major League Baseball. But it can’t be constantly dominant if they’re gassed all the time — especially towards the end of the season.