The New York Yankees have been sputtering over the past week and a half, dropping six of nine games, including their past three games (Baltimore - 2, Kansas City). The team's starting rotation has been of particular concern. After signing Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte, re-signing Freddy Garcia and trading top prospect Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda, the starting rotation was a perceived strength for the pinstripes.
In reality, that perceived strength has been New York's biggest weakness this season. While Kuroda has been solid (3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), Freddy Garcia was demoted to the bullpen following four largely disastrous starts (12.51 ERA, 25 hits allowed in 13.2 innings). Michael Pineda struggled with shoulder soreness and loss of velocity in Spring Training, and recently underwent an MRI that showed a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder (which spells the end to his 2012 season without appearing in a regular season game). Andy Pettitte has been getting himself ready in the minors, but didn't pitch last season, and at 39 years old (he'll turn 40 in June), it wouldn't be wise to depend on Pettitte to be anything more than an average pitcher this year. The once-promising Phil Hughes has struggled to regain his All-Star form of 2010 (7.48 ERA in five starts), while Ivan Nova has left too many balls over the middle of the plate (5.58 ERA, .341 batting average against). Even ace C.C. Sabathia has struggled, notching a 4.58 ERA while posting just one quality starts in five outings through Thursday.
With managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner wanting to get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold when it kicks in following the 2013 season, it's unlikely New York will look to acquire another big-name free agent or trade for a top-tier starter with a big long-term contract. Keeping that in mind, I believe the Yankees will look to acquire an established veteran starting pitcher with a salary that will come off the books no later than the end of the 2013 campaign. Two such players the team should look to target are Ryan Dempster (Chicago Cubs) and Wandy Rodriguez (Houston Astros).
Dempster, like most Chicago Cubs, had a very disappointing 2011 season, but had three consecutive seasons from 2008-2010 with at least 200 innings pitched with a sub-4.00 earned run average. At 35, Dempster is likely approaching the twilight of his career, but hasn't pitched like it this season, sporting a 0.95 ERA in four starts this season. Dempster is making $14 million in the last year of a four year deal he signed with the Cubs prior to the 2009 season. With Chicago clearly in rebuilding mode, there's little doubt Theo Epstein would like to get Dempster's contract off the books, as well as acquire young talent to re-tool the farm system.
At 32 years old, Wandy Rodriguez should still have at least a few prime pitching years left. Rodriguez signed a three-year contract with Houston before last season, and has a fourth-year option on his contract that could bump the total value of the deal to $44.5 million. For his career, Rodriguez has a 3.99 ERA, but has recorded four straight years with a sub-4.00 ERA, and this season has a 1.64 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in six starts this season. Like the Cubs, Houston could look to add to their farm system while rebuilding, and with Rodriguez owed up to approximately 34 million over the next three years, taking his contract off the books could be a wise decision.
While the Yankees would likely be more than willing to take a salary dump from either Chicago or Houston, it's highly unlikely New York will get such a gift. Houston especially would want at least one solid major league prospect in a deal, since Rodriguez is locked up for at least the next two seasons. The level of prospect(s) in any deal for either player would likely be contingent on how much of each players' respective salary that New York would absorb. While I don't think that the Yankees would be willing to give up one of their "Killer B's" (Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos), mid-level prospects like Adam Warren or D.J. Mitchell could likely be had in a deal.
Ultimately, the Yankees need to make some sort of move for their starting rotation, as the combination of ineffectiveness and injuries in their rotation could prevent the team from falling short of their goal to return to the World Series in 2012.
bring on ryan dempster !!!
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