3 pitchers for New York Yankees to target after lockout
By David Hill
The New York Yankees may have postseason aspirations, but there are plenty of holes on the roster. Centerfield, shortstop, and first base are wide open, leaving gaping holes in the lineup. Any internal options are not close to exciting, nor are they the type of impact players that the Yankees need.
The same can be said of the pitching staff. The Yankees rotation is Gerrit Cole and a plethora of question marks. New York’s bullpen could stand to add another solid setup man or two. There is clearly work to be done.
Three pitchers for New York Yankees to target
While there may not be many impact starters left in free agency, there are still plenty of arms available. The trade market should heat up once the new CBA has been agreed upon and the lockout comes to an end. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of relievers available, including several that could make a difference.
The New York Yankees need to make some moves to address their pitching staff. Here are three pitchers they should target when the lockout ends.
Carlos Rodon
The White Sox had been waiting for Carlos Rodon to emerge as a top of the rotation arm for years, finally running out of patience and refusing to offer him arbitration after the 2020 season. While he was brought back on a one year deal worth $3 million, it seemed to be a final chance to prove himself.
Rodon responded with the best showing of his major league career. He made his first All Star game while posting a 2.37 ERA and a 0.957 WHiP in his 132.2 innings, striking out 185 batters with 36 walks. He will not need to worry about settling for just $3 million this time through free agency.
That is not to say that Rodon is free of risks. He had never pitched at that level for an extended period of time before 2021. Rodon also spent time on the Injured List with shoulder fatigue and did not throw more than five innings in any of his final eight appearances.
Nonetheless, Rodon is arguably the top starting pitcher available. Given those questions, the New York Yankees could end up with a bargain in the middle of their rotation. If he can perform at the same level as last year, Rodon would be a perfect second starter. Otherwise, he would be a solid veteran for the back of the rotation.