If the Pittsburgh Pirates make Felipe Vazquez available, the New York Yankees should focus on acquiring him
The New York Yankees are right now sitting at the top of the American League East. Starting pitching seems to be their weakness and we know that Brian Cashman will look everywhere to try and get reinforcements there.
The bullpen could use some help too. Dellin Betances hasn’t thrown a pitch all year and no one knows when or if he’ll be coming back this year in his free-agent season. Guys like Chad Green, Adam Ottavino, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman have been themselves by and large all year, but the ultimate goal for the New York Yankees is a championship in October and you can’t get that if your bullpen wears down in July and August.
If the Pittsburgh Pirates were to try and cash on in on Felipe Vazquez, the New York Yankees should make the move to get him for a couple of reasons.
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First of all, he’s exactly the kind of arm that Brian Cashman likes. Vazquez ranks towards the top in Fastball velocity, K Rate and fastball spin rate per Statcast.
Vazquez is also young and cost-controlled. He’s 27 and his salary over the next four years is $5.7 million, $7.75 million and two team options of $10 million each. With Betances set to be a free agent and Chapman able to opt-out of his deal after the season, it gives the New York Yankees some cost-controlled protection.
Lastly, let’s say Luis Severino and Jonathan Loaisiga come back but aren’t totally stretched out as starters. Let’s say Betances comes back as himself as well. Adding Vazquez could give the New York Yankees an option of using an opener as a part of their strategy not only down the stretch but in the playoffs as well. The Yankees are 7-0 with this strategy and certainly have the arms to use it. Why not in the playoffs?
The New York Yankees have plenty of prospect capital. They are at the point where it is championship mode. Not only do they need to keep Vazquez away from Tampa Bay or Houston, but looking forward, keeping him away from a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers would be key as well.
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, Vazquez is probably someone they should cash in on and get a ton for. For the New York Yankees, he’s someone who can certainly help them get them championship number 28 in franchise history and someone who can make a deep and talented bullpen that much better not only in 2019 but beyond. If he’s out there, they should go get him and if it takes a top prospect or two, so be it.