The Yankees have gone through most of the past two seasons without one of their best players, right-hander Luis Severino. After emerging as an ace-caliber starter from 2017-18, Severino logged just 12 innings in 2019 because of shoulder surgery. The hope was that Severino would return to health this past year, but the Tommy John procedure he underwent in February wiped out the chances of that. He missed the entire season as a result.
As someone who’s still just 26 years old, the Yankees are no doubt hopeful that the hard-throwing Severino will return to form next season. However, they’ll have to make do without Severino when the campaign opens, as general manager Brian Cashman told James Wagner of the New York Times and other reporters on Wednesday that the hurler won’t return until June or July.
Another Severino-less rotation, even if only for a couple of months, would leave the Yankees with Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt among the in-house possibilities for their staff (Cole’s obviously a lock). They’re currently slated to lose Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton and J.A. Happ to free agency, while Domingo German’s future is uncertain after he missed all of 2020 because of a domestic violence suspension. Though German has been reinstated by MLB, the Yankees have not had “access” to him yet because of COVID protocols, per the Athletic’s Lindsey Adler (via Twitter).
Cashman spoke about the rotation Wednesday, saying that it “needs to get improved upon,” per Marc Carig of The Athletic. Notably, aside from the aforementioned pending free agents from New York, the market will include the likes of top option Trevor Bauer, Kevin Gausman, Marcus Stroman, Jose Quintana, and Jake Odorizzi. The Rangers’ Lance Lynn, a former Yankee, figures to be near the forefront of the trade market. Don’t be surprised to see the Yankees explore the Lynn or other options in the trade market to build out their rotation depth. Given the success of the Rays this season, the Yankees figure to enter 2021 with an appropriate amount of urgency – and that means having depth ready for action.
Maybe the rankies can spend another $324 million on another pitcher this year.
Maybe, it’s their money to do with as they please.
When you stop “yanking your thing”, why don’t you stop with your bull.
Rocky7 – Obviously You have nothing intelligent to say….lol
As you add so much to the conversation.
That would be nice, but there is no Cole out there.
Wait… I thought Paxton was an ace?
No, he is the 2020 winner of the Sonny Gray/Ed Whitson Award.
Paxton was 15-6 with a 117 ERA+ in 2019. Health issues in 2020, not head issues like Gray/Whitson. Might want to toss Vazquez into the latter group too!
If the NYY have any other pitchers with “head” issues like Sonny Gray, send them them the Reds way.
Maybe the yankees will trade Greg Bird for Jacob deGrom?
Yankees might have to include Rob Refsnyder to get that deal done. Hard to justify parting with both him and Bird to get that deGrom guy.
Don’t be silly, it would cost Clint Frazier at least.
Is this a joke? You think you will get presently baseball’s best pitcher..for Greg Bird?
Well, I guess the Yankees would have to sign Bird first… But then… Oh Boys! Bird is the next Gehrig… Maybe the Mets will throw in Dominic too?
You’re right, unrealistic trade of Bird for DeGrom. Mets would need to throw in Pete Alonso at least and possibly Edwin Diaz.
This biggest steal here is the Yankees landing DeGrom while trading Bird who is on another team. What a steal
@echo..okay, if the Yankees can pull that off then all of baseball should just surrender to Brian Cashman. =D
I know everyone has jokes – and Yankees fans are rather high on their AAA clubs – but any of you non-Yankee fans – are you not the same with your top minor league prospects?
No my team gives up Torres for 2 months of Chapman and cease and Jimenez for Quintana . But for all other teams you are right . Cubs 1 World Series Torres 0 for now.
Wow, you and bobgibson are such smart baseball minds! You”re discord is so obvious!
Why don’t you both come on down to the South Bronx and we can show you what we think!
Gary Sanchez for Jacob deGrom straight up.
If any of those guys get re-signed it’ll be Tanaka, Paxton and Happ are definitely done in pinstripes. I doubt they throw a ton of money at Bauer but I could see them going after Stroman.
Am I the only one that doesn’t want Tanaka back. He’s great for 6 games out of 10, then not so much. He’s also a 6 inning guy on a good day. Bauer wants 1 year deals so give him 35 for a year. Let Deivi and Schmidt develop. Then let Bauer walk next year.
I think that is a good solid #4 or # 5 with a greater than .500 quality deal.
After resigning DJ, first priority should be Trevor Bauer. Yanks must have starters for playoffs that they can rely on after Cole. Bauer is that answer. Go get him!
$$$,$$$,$$$
If you guys think money is going to stop the Yanks from filling their #1 need (a starting pitcher to pair with Cole), then you haven’t paid attention. They will spend the money if they think Bauer is a good fit. My question is if not Bauer, then who? They are not going into the season with Jordan Montgomery and Deivi Garcia as the #2 and 3. I think they will move on from Tanaka, Paxton and Happ, so that’s a lot of money off the books to use for Bauer,
Bob Gibson would come cheap….
Not only is Bauer not reliable, him and Cole don’t exactly get along.
Bauer not reliable????? what player did you watch this season?
What player did you watch for his career? He is an up and down pitcher. Just look at his stats for this year and the year before. Night and day difference.
Except he’s the top starter available and likely will have a Cy Young award this season. Its a what have you done for me lately league bud and Bauer was nearly untouchable this season and almost every team would love to slot him in there rotation.
Good post Joe says .
@qbert1996
Depending on how you wanna look at it, you just outlined more reasons to avoid Bauer. He IS the top starter available coming off a Cy Young season, so if you don’t believe he is as good as his 2020 stats then he’s a HUGE overpay and an avoid at all costs player.
jackson and munson weren’t the best of friends,but they won two championships together.
Bauer is a head case, not sure he would fit in NY.
The Yankees payroll is enormous though it looks like they will get some of that coming off after the 2021 season. Still, it’s difficult not seeing the Yankees pursuing DJL. Will they really bring him back AND go after someone like Bauer? I know we’re talking about the Yankees but I’m sure they have a bottom to their pockets at some point also and I’m also pretty sure they have a record payroll as it is.
Would a Yankees fan mind enlightening me on what I’m missing about payroll and maybe whatever I’m not thinking about or I’m incorrect on?
The Yankees have $146.6M committed for 2021 before arbitration raises. That leaves about $63M of tax space remaining to stay below the $210M threshold for next year. They definitely have the room to resign DJL and sign Bauer.
But isn’t the arbitration raises going to total around $50m? They’ll be at $200 roughly before even resigning DJ.
they have some big money going to arb tho
We need catching too
Each year over the CBT level the tax rate increases. The Yankees will be where the Red Sox were shortly……
Except the Yankees won’t finish in last place in AL East
Rather finish last once and a while and win more than one championship this century. Yankees Team Slogan “At least we finished above .500 again”.
Yankees used to measure success with championships… now it’s wildcards. 8 times they have been the wildcard… Go Yankees!
Bob you seem obsessed with the Yankees. I’m guessing your favorite team isn’t doing much worth talking about.
Yep… just like the Yankees.
Well bob if it gives your life meaning, obsess away. Just understand your favorite team holds no such importance in anyone’s world.
Bob, your quite the idiot!
Not only will the Yanks not finish in last place they also won’t win four titles in the last 20 years.
You’re right. They also will not win on 2020, or 2019 for that matter.
Catgut – neither last place nor win a World Series lol
I honestly think Red Sox fans as a group (obviously not every single one) are stupid for listening to their ownership crying poor. The CBT penalties aren’t so minimal compared to the billions these guys have in their pockets I don’t see why the Yankees would ever put a team that bad on the field. They’d lose more revenue in lost viewership than they ever would in tax. Maybe the Yankees haven’t won in a while but at least they compete every year and have a chance. I think the product the Red Sox put on the field this year is bordering on insulting to their fans.
I enjoyed the yr n the chance of a high draft pick. I enjoyed the young guys playing more than the players they began the season with. And not for one min did I buy into a over spend scenario, it was losing drafts picks n a penalty. I’m looking forward to next yr
This is going to be a phenomenal year for buying low on people. Quintana could probably be had VERY reasonably, especially if you buy his FIP the last 3 years or so. Wrigley never seemed to suit him. Getting a year of him for a song could be very compelling. I wouldn’t touch Bauer based on him pitching like an ace in his walk year. Ironically, I always liked him, but not at the price he’s going to cost.
Stroman doesn’t make a ton of sense, since he’s kind of underwhelming against Tampa for his career, and at his size, doesn’t figure to age very well.
Odorizzi screams “Phil Hughes” for me.
Paxton, if it costed close to nothing, could be worth another ride.
I think if they could get Paxton team friendly one year deal I’d do it, it gives him the opportunity to build back some worth and hopeful have a decent year. I’m not sure what the issue is with German but if they hold on to him he’s good for a quality 6 innings most nights. The stuff is there for him, along with Garcia, Monty and possibly Schmidt until Sevy gets back. Then you have Cole, Severino, Paxton, Garcia and German with a Schmidt and a King as your starters, not terrible. As much as I’d like to have Bauer I don’t think the Yankees will be looking much at starters . Probably more at the bullpen end of the pitching spectrum. Need to move on from Holder, Cessa at the minimum. They’ll hold on to Loasiga and see if Ottavino can bounce back.
As a Cubs fan watching Quintana you want him as a #4-5 but will he command more $$? He isn’t worth it to me . Great guy but not one you want in a win or go home game
Doesn’t Bauer only sign 1 year deals? He refuses to sign multi year deals
We don’t know yet. He has said that in the past, but never been a free agent until now. He recently backed off the 1 year deal thing a bit and seemed more open to a multi year deal. But I think he wants to go somewhere to win. I don’t think he will command a long contract, but he will demand top dollar for a shorter contract.
The Astros will gladly pick up German.
After trading for Chapman, I’m sure the Yanks feel at home w/ German.
I see Chapman assaulting a wall (per police findings) differently than Osuna and German brutally beating women.
Tanaka to the Angels makes sense. Large Japanese community here, direct flights home, larger ballparks.
The Angels need 2 men for the rotation.
The Yankees will Q.O. him so early thanks for the draft pick?
That’s be us. Then his injured ligament will finally pop.
If the Yankees QO Tanaka then Tanaka will be a Yankee again. He would jump all over that 18.9 million and stay in pinstripes.
Yankees are home watching TV because of their starting pitching. DJL has been great and the kid can hit, but Yankees #1 priority should be acquiring Starting pitching.
Two things I’m sure of:
(1) Yanks will resign LeMahieu
(2) They won’t sign Bauer
They need pitching! Both starting and relieving. Not getting Sevy back until July is a real problem. I could see Quintana at the right price.
I think they will be active on the trade front. You can either keep Frazier or Andujar but NOT both. One must go. Can they get a decent pitcher for one of them?
Wouldn’t be shocked to see Voit traded as well (he’ll never have more trade value). Trading Voit allows them to move LeMahieu to first and Torres to second. Then they can bring back Sir Didi.
I was thinking similarly. Torres is terrible at SS, and they need to get a little more left handed. Trading Voit or even packaging him with someone else could get land them a decent pitcher.
If they didn’t have 5 OF already, Michael Brantley would actually be a great fit for hem. Left handed, .300 hitter, doesn’t strike out.
Love Brantley but if they sign him then there’s no room for Andujar or Frazier. Which might be OK, but I think he’s returning to Houston.
First, I think you’re both right about Gleyber, but I wonder if they won’t go after a trade for one of the many short-term SS, or Andrelton Simmons, who is the best defending SS in the AL and probably the entire league.
Second, we also need a catcher. We don’t have a starting catcher with the Sanchez-Higgy tandem.
Third, Yankees have to stop trying to play the middle by saving money in certain areas (pitching) while hoping other areas will make up for it (hitting). This formula has failed.
Now, it may have worked in’17 & ‘18 but, everyone’s performance was inordinately outstanding (Sanchez, Sevy, Judge etc), but it’s difficult to tell when the teams that won cheated.
Clipper.. Look at Torres this way. Everyone complained about Jeter’s defense and look how that turned out. Torres will be fine. His problems are more lack of focus than lack of talent.
You mean the teams that cheated through sign stealing as opposed to steroid use?
*cough cough*
Alex Rodriguez, Rogers Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown…
Don’t stop there. While you’re bringing up ancient history, don’t forget to mention the Black Sox.
Let me know what the statute of limitations is on cheating and I’ll only bring up the tainted World Series titles that fall under those dates.
Also Jeter’s career dWAR comes in at -9.4. So I guess I’d say his critics were right?
David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, etc etc
Pangolin.. My point on Jeter is multiple championships and first ballot HOF. I’ll take that all day long.
Ok here goes my GM cap. Yankees sign DJ and then Bauer. Cole, Bauer, Deivi, Montgomery, and Clarke Schmidt with German and Severino also somehow in mix. Voit, Hicks, and Andujar plus Albert Abreu moved to Cleveland for Lindor. Gardner returns for final season to platoon in center with Tauchman and later Florial in mix. Sanchez is the new 1st baseman and backup catcher to open up another roster spot.
Definitely resign DJ to play 1B, Torres to 2B. Trade Voit, Andujar, Abreu, Estrada & Hicks for Lindor and Carassco.
Cleveland will not want Hicks, his injury risk, and his bad contract, especially following financial losses due to the pandemic. Andujar adds little value as he is unable to play a defensive position. He is a DH and the Indians already have a DH.
Yankees!!!! Crap.
The Yankess have about $85 million coming off the books for 2021 (Counting the $5million they still owe Ellsbury in 2021).
To do list: 1) resign DJ LeMahieu 2) Sign or trade for another Ace type starting pitcher. 3) Strengthen catcher position (How about signing Yadier Molina to a 2 year deal and platoon/mentor with Gary Sanchez?) 4) Move Gleybor Torres back to second base and get a lefty hitting defensive shortstop- (Dj Lemahieu can float between 3rd,, 2b and 1b) add another arm to the bullpen, impove the bendh by getting more lefthanded hitters and speed. and start thinking about moving on/replacing Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner.
,
Indians reject both trades. I doubt highly Indians agree with any deal that doesn’t include Torres.
You forgot about the ARB raises for Judge, Urshcella,Chad Green, S. anchez and a few more
As a Mets fan, I’m not looking forward to competing with the Yankees for starting pitching in free agency
If the Yankees want to field a championship level team, there’s no way they can do that and stay under the CBT. They’ll have to push their salary to $250M+ which puts them into the high penalty area. Even the wealthy Yankees are crying poor mouth after a season with no fans in the stands. So it will be very interesting to see how the Yankees handle the offseason. I believe the Yankees will let DJL walk and focus more on pitching and a new catcher. Still not sure they’ll be able to stay under the CBT even if they punt on DJL, but it will allow their penalties to be much lighter than if they resign him.
The wild card is what Hal thinks the new CBA will have for a CBT if at all. If it is expected to be favorable to big market spending, then NY, LA, Bos may pay a big tax for one yr. Knowing that a better contract is coming.
Nobody asked. But here is my thoughts. If German comes back then they go after Tanaka and Paxton if German doesn’t then they go after Bauer and either Tanaka or pax. Leave Torres at short if they can sign jt then package some combo of voit Sanchez and Frazier for a starter and definitely sign DJ