The New York Yankees have had some issues over the past couple of days with their most reliable starting pitchers. Is there anyone out there that can help?
Yes, but he's on the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Yankees are one of the contending teams Cole Hamels would accept a trade to, according to Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. Let the trade rumors begin (again).
The last two games have been bad for the Yankees. Masahiro Tanaka was knocked around by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday and Michael Pineda was embarrassed by the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. The two surrendered combined 13 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings.
New York already has issues with starters CC Sabathia (5.31 ERA) and Nathan Eovaldi (4.95 ERA), so they don't need more to worry about with their top two right-handers. Well, it's already a bit too late for that.
The Yankees, whether they'll say it or not, will be concerned about Tanaka during each one of his outings. The partially torn UCL he suffered last July has lingered in the minds of many and the fact that he suffered a forearm strain earlier this season - which kept him out one month - has not provided any further comfort. Although his health has been holding up for the most part, it's nothing the team can rely on if they hope to make a deep postseason run.
As for Pineda, his 4.25 ERA shows that he's hittable after all. In 2014 he made only 13 starts, but his 1.89 ERA over those outings proved his dominance and ability to overwhelm the opposition. However, he's given up five earned runs or more in four outings this season, including last night's debacle against the Phillies where he surrendered eight earned runs on 11 hits and one walk over 3 1/3 innings.
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com poses some interesting questions regarding Pineda's ups-and-downs.
"Did that 16 strikeout game, in which he threw a season-high 111-pitches in seven innings, leave a lingering scar on the arm that has already undergone major shoulder surgery to repair a labral tear? Or was it the decision by the Yankees to skip Pineda's turn on June 6, giving him an unsettling 11 days between starts, after which he has now gone 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA?"
There's no way to tell. All we know is that there's about a month and a week left before the trade deadline and the Yankees might have to make a move because the pesky Tampa Bay Rays are not going away.
"I don't see us making a major acquisition for a pitcher [at this time]," general manager Brian Cashman said back in May, via Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, "but I'm not going to say I wouldn't do it."
Cashman is not afraid to make deals, however, he did vow to continue building the Yankees' farm system after various prospects failed to effectively step in last season when the team was dealing with countless injuries. A trade for Hamels would undoubtedly cost the Yankees a lot in young talent.
"The Yankees have top-end prospects who intrigue the Phillies, including outfielder Aaron Judge and pitcher Luis Severino," adds Kernan. "The Yankees will have to weigh the future against the present ..."
Judge and Severino profile to be the core of the team's future and giving up one of them would be a steep price to pay for Hamels, who, if he requests the Phillies' trade partner to pick up his 2019 option, will cost nearly $100 million for the next four and a half seasons.
The Yankees were linked to Hamels in trade rumors during the offseason, but nothing ever came to fruition.
The Texas Rangers have had ongoing discussions with the Phillies regarding Hamels. Right now it appears as if that's the top spot for the left-hander, especially since he said he'd be willing to be dealt to Texas as well.
New York has a number of other talented prospects they could offer, but Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro has been stubborn in his demands, and rightfully so. It's doubtful he takes his foot off the pedal and accepts a deal that does not involve a team's top prospects. However, perhaps the Yankees could make something work if they were willing to absorb all of the money owed to Hamels through 2019.
It's all speculation at this point, but it's clear New York needs to bolster their rotation. They were scouting Reds' starters Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake a couple of weeks ago, which could very well the route they choose to take - acquire a starter who carries less value because he's scheduled to hit free agency after the season.
The trade deadline is July 31 at 4:00 p.m. ET. All hope to land Hamels will be lost on that day at 4:01 p.m. ET.
