The Yankees are still in need of pitching, and with Max Scherzer off the board (even though the Yankees were not in on Scherzer) the options start to dwindle. Well at least on the free agent market with many different options available via trade. But who are these options? Can the Yankees afford them? Or are they even worth it?
One-Year Options:
The one year options are less likely for the Yankees to trade for unless they manage to get a can't miss deal considering the Yankees depth of farm system it would not make sense to gut it for a one year deal. These will also be more reasonable trade option that would make sense with the Yankees prospect system.
Doug Fister:
2014:16-6/ 2.41 ERA/ 164 IP/ 98 SO
Fister will most likely bring back the most out of all of these deals based off his strong 2014 performance. While even though he only pitched 164 innings he showed that he has the ability to be dominant. However for a one year deal Fister would cost to much of a prospect system that lacks true depth.
Final Thought: As much as it makes sense to go after Doug Fister it is too much of a risk to give up top prospects for only one year.
Verdict: Pass
Mike Leake:
2014:11-13/ 3.70 ERA/ 214.1 IP/ 164 SO
favorite of mine ever since his name was whispered on the trade block. With Leake's ability to be a workhorse, high groundball rate, and put up solid numbers in the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark is the perfect pitcher for the New York rotation. Now even though Yankee Stadium is a hitter's ballpark it isn't as bad as Great American which should mean there shouldn't a jump in Leake's ERA. Last year Leake proved he could be a bright spot in a injury plagued Reds rotation, which is much like what Hiroki Kuroda did in 2014. Now wouldn't it make sense to bring that type of pitcher into the back-end of the rotation and keep Chris Capuano in the bullpen?
Final Thought: With Leake bringing every quality the Yankees currently need in a pitcher it would make no sense not to at least ask about him.
Verdict: Attempt a trade for Mike Leake.
Ian Kennedy:
2014:13-13/ 3.63 ERA/ 201 IP/ 207 SO
Kennedy has been a rumor floating around the Yankees for quite sometime now. The Yankees trade for Kennedy last year fell through before the trade deadline when the Padres asked too much for Kennedy( the Eric Jagielo and Ian Clarkin package). For the majority of the time Kennedy has been reliable having 5 out of 7 years with pitching over 180 innings.
Final Thought: Kennedy could be the pitcher the Yankees are looking for considering he can maintain are solid ERA while being an innings eater. Now even though he was pitching in Petco Park which is a known pitchers ballpark he would still bring in the solid workhorse that the Yankees are in dire need of.
Verdict: The Yankees should reopen trade discussions for Ian Kennedy.
Brandon Beachy has never pitched over 30 games in his 4 years in the MLB. He has shown many times that he has the ability to be dominant, however he has also shown that he is unable to stay healthy for a full year. Beachy could be a great pickup for New York considering their lack of pitching depth, plus how unhealthy he has been throughout his career he could be picked up for a cheap 1-2 year deal. Not to mention that he is only 28 so he could help with the youth movement that the Yankees seem to be slowly moving towards.