The New York Yankees Poised for a Major Move! #YankeesTradeSpeculation

In the previous season, as the Yankees struggled to an 82-win record and were eliminated from the expanded playoff race with a nine-game losing streak in August, they collectively threw 23,889 pitches, utilizing 30 pitchers—excluding five appearances in lopsided games by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson.

Gerrit Cole, pitching for 209 innings, threw 3,281 pitches. The Yankees were relying on Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes to form a reliable trio behind Cole, but they threw a combined 2,201 pitches in 127 2/3 innings, facing injuries and occasional ineffectiveness.

Following the conclusion of the Super Bowl without the Giants and Jets, the Yankees are entering spring training with the hope that Rodon and Cortes can replicate their 2022 performance, where they collectively won 26 games and pitched 336 1/3 innings.

However, this hope is far from guaranteed, as early projections by baseball reference suggest both pitchers might win only seven games each. Both Rodon and Cortes enter the spring in a “prove it” mode, especially Rodon, who is coming off the first year of a six-year, $162 million deal, producing a 6.85 ERA, one of the worst in baseball.

The need for more starting pitching becomes evident with Luis Severino leaving for the Mets in free agency, although his retention was unlikely, and Michael King being part of the blockbuster deal for Juan Soto.

To address this, the Yankees could explore options in the free-agent market, considering familiar faces like Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell. Alternatively, they might engage in another trade, with Shane Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young Award winner, being mentioned as a possibility. Bieber, with a 60-32 record and a 3.27 ERA in 134 career appearances, could be available due to his expiring contract, and the Guardians have a history of trading such pitchers, similar to CC Sabathia in 2008 and Cliff Lee in 2009.

While Bieber is not as prominently discussed as Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes, the Yankees may need to wait until the trade deadline in July, as Cleveland might follow a similar strategy. However, financial uncertainties with Cleveland’s regional television network might prompt them to make an early move.

Considering Bieber’s recent history with injuries, similar to Rodon and Cortes, the Yankees could face challenges, although Bieber’s effective performance in 128 innings with a 3.80 ERA post-July 9 provides optimism. Additionally, a potential reunion with pitching coach Matt Blake, formerly Cleveland’s assistant director of pitching development, adds an interesting dimension.

As the Yankees continue to navigate their pitching needs, the intrigue persists for a team whose 3.97 ERA in the last season was its highest in a full season since 2019, especially when excluding Cole’s Cy Young-worthy performance.