The New York Yankees have been linked to just about every available starting pitcher at some point this winter, but according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, that speculation may finally be coming to an end.
After missing out on Freddy Peralta, Feinsand doesn’t believe the Yankees are planning to land an elite arm, naming Arizona Diamondbacks free agent Zac Gallen as an unlikely option.
“The Yankees had been in contact with the Brewers about Peralta, but now that he’s off the board, I don’t expect them to be in the mix for any of the free-agent starters, including Valdez, Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito,” Feinsand wrote.
The right-hander remains one of the most reliable starters in baseball when healthy, and on paper, he would’ve been a nice addition for a Yankees team that’s been in the starting pitching market for a lot of the winter.
Instead, Feinsand’s report suggests the front office is content with this current group, even with the injuries to Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. The Yankees have already invested heavily in their rotation in recent years, and while they could use more help, New York doesn’t necessarily need an ace.
That doesn’t mean pitching won’t remain a question mark, though, as the Yankees will enter the season in a somewhat weird spot on the bump due to the injuries.
As of now, however, the Yankees will enter the spring with what they currently have, which could be fine.
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