Though he wasn’t able to finalize any high-profile deals at last week’s Winter Meetings, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hasn’t stopped trying. According to George A. King of the New York Post, Cashman is saying that “the Yankees are open for business”. King also hears rumors that the Rangers and Angels are more open to making trades as a result of last week’s free agent fallout.
New York has been looking for a more reliable option to add to their starting rotation than the question marks it currently contains, but King says that the Yankees are uninspired by what the free agent and trade markets are offering at this time.
New York hasn’t shown much of an interest in the free agent market’s top available starters, Yu Darvish and Edwin Jackson, at their current prices. Jackson brings with him a history of inconsistency and Darvish hasn’t thrown a pitch in the majors yet figures to require $80 to $100 million this winter.
Now that the Angels have signed C.J. Wilson, King hears that they are willing to listen to trade offers for Ervin Santana. Other starting pitching options available via trade this winter are John Danks and Gavin Floyd of the Chicago White Sox, Gio Gonzalez of the Oakland A’s and Wandy Rodriguez of the Houston Astros.
King reports that the Yankees are willing to wait for a situation to develop that they like from “both a talent and money standpoint”.
Meanwhile, King says the Rangers are taking a proactive approach to improving their roster.
Not only did the Angels sign away former Texas starter C.J. Wilson, they also added the best hitter in the game last week. Many are waiting to see how the Rangers are going to respond to the Wilson and Albert Pujols signings by their AL West rivals.
King hears that, just as they did last year, the Rangers may turn their attention from upgrading their rotation to upgrading their lineup. Sources say that Texas is interested in signing slugger Prince Fielder and then flipping current first baseman Mitch Moreland for starting pitching. Specifically, King hears the Rangers would send Moreland to the Rays, who are currently searching for a first baseman, in exchange for starting pitcher Wade Davis.
Now that Tampa Bay has locked up Matt Moore, they currently have six capable starting pitchers on their roster. While you can never have too much pitching, the Rays may be willing to move one of their young starters to improve their offense.
If not Fielder, King hears that the Rangers are also interested in acquiring Brewers Casey McGehee and moving him to first. This would again allow them to trade Moreland for starting pitching.
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