Yankees Blockbuster Trade to…

The New York Yankees dedicated considerable effort to enhancing their starting rotation in the offseason, pursuing pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell, ultimately securing Marcus Stroman in free agency. Recent speculations suggest that after the regular season commences, the Yankees might set their sights on Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes as a potential target.

In a report dated January 30, Bob Klapisch hinted at the possibility of pivoting to Burnes if the Yankees move on from Snell. Klapisch mentioned that General Manager Brian Cashman was willing to commit up to $28 million annually to Snell. With Stroman’s luxury-tax salary in 2024 standing at $18.5 million, the Yankees potentially have around $10 million for further rotation investments.

Burnes has been a trade candidate throughout the winter, although no deal materialized. While he’s likely to begin the season with the Brewers, if they fall out of playoff contention, there could be an opportunity to move the remaining balance of his $15.6 million salary, especially considering his impending free agency next winter.

Although other teams may also be interested in acquiring Burnes, Klapisch notes that the pro-rated salary wouldn’t deter Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner from pursuing a deal.

As of the 2024 season, the Yankees’ rotation is anchored by Gerrit Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. Stroman, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Nestor Cortes complete the starting five. While Stroman has been a reliable pitcher, Schmidt is relatively untested as a full-time starter, and both Rodón and Cortes faced health challenges in the previous season.

Cashman has expressed concerns about the rotation, emphasizing the need for contingency plans. Even if the rotation performs well, the front office might still explore impactful moves to strengthen this area of the roster, possibly considering Burnes during the summer trade deadline.

Burnes has consistently demonstrated elite performance since 2020, winning the 2021 National League Cy Young Award and consistently finishing in the top 10 of voting. His track record includes three consecutive All-Star Game selections, maintaining 167-plus innings pitched and 200-plus strikeouts each year. Over his last 622.1 frames, Burnes has achieved a 37-22 record with a 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 765 strikeouts. The Yankees, although potentially concluding their pursuit of top-tier rotation talent for the offseason, might revisit this goal before the summer trade deadline.