Yankees recent history shows they won’t overspend on an ace

The most recent top-flight free agent pitcher the Yankees signed was Masahiro Tanaka — and that was six years ago. Since, then GM Brian Cashman has stuck to trades such as James Paxton (good), Sonny Gray (bad), the use of the farm system and mid-season acquisitions.

The last big-name free agent pitcher that the Yankees signed was Masahiro Tanaka back in 2014 when they gave him a seven-year, $155 million contract. Amazingly enough, by slightly altering his mechanics, Tanaka has been able to pitch with a partially UCL for the duration of his Yankee career.

Despite a sub-par 2017 regular season where Masa went 13-12 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.239 WHIP, he still struck out 194 batters across 178.1 innings — and has been the Yanks’ most consistent pitcher, especially in the playoffs since coming over from Japan.

Yet for all the good Tanaka has done while in New York, a change in organizational philosophy has marked him as the last high-priced free agent ace the Yanks have signed.

And with only one year remaining on his contract (his AAV in 2020 is $23M), it appears less and less likely that the club will shell out $100 million-plus for a top-flight starter because of the inherent health risks pitchers present — and ever-increasing years they want guaranteed.

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While I contend that general manager Brian Cashman could convince owner Hal Steinbrenner to open up his checkbook wide enough to sign either Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg — thereby making the Yankees a favorite to win the AL, there will be plenty of competition for the services of the recent World Series combatants.

Andy Martino of SNY states that the Angels “will spend whatever it takes to sign Cole” — a southern California native. Much like last winter, when the Yankees refused to get into a bidding war over Patrick Corbin, I find it hard to imagine Cashman offering Cole close to $300 million.

The same goes for 31-year-old Stephen Strasburg, whom many expect to return to Washington for around $200 million. Therefore, while signing a top of the rotation starter remains a priority, is Zack Wheeler, Hyun-Jin Ryu, or Madison Bumgarner worth $100M-plus?

While that isn’t for anyone to decide other than Steinbrenner and Cashman, the club could look to go the same route as to when they traded for James Paxton from the Mariners. But again, clubs know the paramount price of starting pitcher, so everyone from Corey Kluber to Luis Castillo — Robbie Ray and even Matthew Boyd will deplete what remains of the Yankees farm system.

And as recent history shows, that isn’t something the Bombers are willing to do. Depending on the overall health of the Yanks’ staff and potential suspension of Domingo German, should the Yankees stand pat, their 2020 staff could consist of this:

James Paxton
Luis Severino
Masahiro Tanaka
Domingo German / Jordan Montgomery / J.A. Happ
Jonathan Loaisiga / Deivi Garcia / Michael King

Sure, there is upside and depth, but still, plenty of unknowns exist. Should this be some semblance of the starting staff, then perhaps reinforcing the bullpen even more so this winter will be Cashman’s iota. Either way, they’ll need the offense to, at the very least, match what it did in 2019 to remain in contention.

The most recent top-flight free agent pitcher the Yankees signed was Masahiro Tanaka — and that was six years ago. Since, then GM Brian Cashman has stuck to trades such as James Paxton (good), Sonny Gray (bad), the use of the farm system and mid-season acquisitions.

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