With the Yankees Already Down Two Pitchers, What are Their Options?
With Luis Servino already having shoulder discomfort and CC Sabathia not being totally healthy yet after heart and knee surgery; Where can the Yankees turn for their 4th and 5th starter for the beginning of the season? And, with a 162 game schedule there will be more injuries, guaranteed.
One of the in-house candidates the Yankees have, is Domingo German. German’s first two starts last year looked very promising, including 6 no-hit innings during his first MLB start. He ended the year 2 and 6 with an ERA of 5.57 in 14 starts and 7 relief appearances. In spring training he has pitched 7 and two-thirds of an inning, striking out 12 batters with a 2.35 ERA. If they go in-house, you most likely will be seeing German in the rotation.
Another in-house guy is Jonathan Loaisiga, who was 2–0, making 9 appearances, 4 of them starts. His ERA was a little high at 5.11. He did miss time last year with shoulder inflammation. So far in spring training, he has a 10.00 ERA in 9 innings pitched. He is the number 1 overall pitching prospect in the Yankees minor league system, and is second overall. I think Loaisiga right now will be the odd man out, but I would like to see him get a shot.
Another candidate is the number twelve overall prospect in the Yankees farm system, Chance Adams. Adams did finally get a call up last year and got a start in Boston, were he was not horrible, but all three hits he gave up were home runs, Adams just missed his location on those long balls. He went 5 innings, getting the loss. Chance Adams has struggled down in the minors and it’s probably the reason he has not gotten too many opportunities at age 24. Adams is struggling in spring training, with a 19.00 ERA in only 2 innings pitched. I’m certain you will see Chance Adams start the season down in triple A.
The last in-house candidate for the Yankees is Luis Cessa. Cessa is usually the go-to-guy that the Yankees call for when they need a starter, but he has really struggled in that role. He is 5 and 11 with an 4.71 career ERA. So far, Cessa has been really impressive in spring training, with 10 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched and an ERA of 1.00. Cessa also has used all 3 other his options to go back down to the minors, which makes him very likely to be in the rotation.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has not ruled out signing free agents, but it does not seem likely that they will.
A top free agent still available is Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel has spent his first six years in Houston with the Astors. He has been one of the top pitchers for Houston the last couple years, winning a Cy Young, making 2 all-star appearances and winning a World Series in 2017. Keuchel’s career record is 76 and 63 with a 3.66 ERA. He struggled last year at 12–11 with a 3.74 ERA. If the Yankees want to go out and sign somebody, this is the guy! Keuchel has playoff experience and knows the American League very well, although the Yankees would only probably only sign him for 1 year.
One more free agent the Yankees have looked into is Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez has been in league for 10 years playing for the Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals and finished last year with the Milwaukee Brewers. He has 127 career wins and also has some been in the playoffs multiple times. In 5 starts with the Brewers last year he was 3 and 0 with a 2.13 ERA. The Yankees have signed Gio Gonzalez to a minor league contract but, can get to the major league level and if he does will make 3 million dollars.
With the Gonzalez’s signing to a minor league contract he is probably the last option so it will definitely be an in-house candidate. Do not be surprised though if you Gonzalez’s get a few starts this season.
