Cleveland Indians: Three trade destinations for Mike Clevinger
By David Hill
New York Yankees
Heading into 2020, the New York Yankees had enough depth in their starting rotation where they had considered attempting to trade J.A. Happ. Now, if Mike Clevinger is available, they need to make a move for him.
On the positive side, Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka, excluding the latter’s rough outing on Tuesday, have been solid. The problem is that the rest of the rotation has not. James Paxton had struggled in his five starts before landing on the Injured List. Happ has been a disaster again. For now, the Yankees are trying to patch the rotation together with Jonathan Loaisiga and Jordan Montgomery.
Clevinger would be an immediate upgrade to the rotation. He would pair with Cole to give the Yankees a pair of aces atop the rotation, with Tanaka slotting in as a formidable third starter. Such a move would make the Yankees the World Series favorites, and possibly bring a title back to New York for the first time since 2009.
The Yankees do have the pieces to make a potential trade happen. The Cleveland Indians need outfield help, and would presumably want a young major league ready pitcher as part of a package for Clevinger if he was to be dealt.
Mike Clevinger would be a perfect fit in the New York Yankees rotation. But he would have to be on the block first.