By being in on both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the New York Yankees indicated they are eager to add top talent to their lineup and pitching staff. Yet, by missing out on both, the front office must find another way to supplement their needs this offseason.
While having Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Nestor Cortes is a strong start, more than three reliable starters are needed to make a deep postseason run. While there are several stopgaps, there isn’t a strong alternative waiting in free agency, but the Yankees could turn to the trade market again to fill out their starting rotation. If so, here are three pitchers who may become Yankees trade targets.
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Shane Bieber
While he may not be the same pitcher who won the 2020 Cy Young Award, Bieber hasn’t had an ERA above 3.80 ERA since his rookie season in 2018. That type of talent plays anywhere in the Majors. Although Bieber has been excellent for the Guardians, he’s also headed into a contract year and is set to earn roughly $12.2 million in 2024.
Bieber may prioritize a chance to win elsewhere as a free agent anyway, and if the Yankees offered a respectable prospect haul, they might be able to pry away the two-time All-Star. Still just 28, he should have several productive years ahead.
Dylan Cease
Amazingly, Cease has never been named to an All-Star team or has any major MLB awards to his name, but the White Sox pitcher finished as the AL Cy Young runner-up in 2022 and clearly has lethal stuff. Yet, rumors have persisted of Cease being traded in the near future.
If so, the Yankees should be all over this, as Cease wouldn’t just be a short-term stopgap. Set to turn 28 on the 28th of December, not only is he younger than Cole, Rodon, and Cortes, but Cease is also under contract through 2025. Adding a pitcher like Cease, who ranked in the top five of strikeouts each of the past three seasons, would be a fine way to cope with missing out on Yamamoto.
Corbin Burnes
It’s unclear how ‘available’ the 2021 Cy Young winner is, as recent reports suggest the Milwaukee Brewers might prefer to avoid further backlash this offseason after losing respected manager Craig Counsell. Trading a three-time All-Star ace isn’t exactly a signal of a team winning now.
Yet, he’s the exact type of talent the Yankees should have interest in, as a 29-year-old pitcher with the potential to be an impact starter capable of getting wins in the postseason. Burnes wants to reach free agency before locking in a long-term deal, but the Yankees are one of a few teams capable of offering him top dollar as a free agent after the 2024 season too.