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Yankees: Buck Showalter’s NYY rotation plan doesn’t make much sense

By Adam Weinrib

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1992: Charlie Hayes #28 of the New York Yankees talks with his manager Buck Showalter #11 during an Major League Baseball game circa 1992 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Hayes played for the Yankees in 1992 and from 1996-97. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1992: Charlie Hayes #28 of the New York Yankees talks with his manager Buck Showalter #11 during an Major League Baseball game circa 1992 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Hayes played for the Yankees in 1992 and from 1996-97. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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We’re glad Buck Showalter isn’t in charge of the Yankees rotation for 2021. He isn’t…right?

It seems quite likely the Yankees will lose both Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton this offseason.

The latter’s as good as gone, and unless he’s willing to accept a one- or two-year deal (or wait forever to see what DJ LeMahieu chooses), the former could swiftly follow.

So, what should the Yankees do in response? What veteran starters are still on the market? Is anyone trading in this economic climate? No, not Sonny Gray. Anyone else?

If former Yanks manager Buck Showalter has his way, the team could be going with an alternative plan in 2021, which feels several years ahead of schedule. Play the kids, Sho says. Yes, all of them.

Unfortunately, this sounds more like the 2020-21 Knicks rotation, and I’m quite confident the Yankees aren’t tanking for a point guard.

This is what the fans would be rewarded with if the team listened to their screaming and really did play every kid you’ve gotten far too attached to over the past few years by studying the farm system like a hawk. Would it be adorable? Sure. Would it result in the Yankees being the American League favorite? No. No, no, no. Nope.

Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt all deserve a shot at starting a decent chunk of games for the 2021 Yankees, but if the team fails to add a veteran starter or two, they’ll be the be all, end all instead of some damn good depth. Suddenly, if anyone goes down, the rotation looks thinner than thin. That’s not a title-winner. It’s not even a division-winner.

World Series winners are able to pull pitchers like Alex Wood and Rich Hill off the bench to handle a few innings, which is definitely preferable to turning to Yoendrys Gomez and Roansy Contreras in a pinch. Promise doesn’t guarantee immediate results, and it would be foolhardy to enter 2021 by telling Clarke Schmidt there’s absolutely nobody behind him.

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