If the New York Yankees wish to make a World Series appearance in 2020, they’re going to need ample starting pitching. With James Paxton being placed on the injured list and the only consistent pitcher to this point being Gerrit Cole, finding more starters is essential.
Ultimately, good teams have two top-end starters, and the Yankees could seek out a trade to further bolster the roster.
The Yankees have been connected to both Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. Let’s take a look at what they would bring to the Bronx.
Asked around about the Yankees and a possible trade for Clevinger. A source with knowledge of the trade market said it will take a haul; “two young pitchers, a middle infielder & an outfielder” being the asking price. Mentions Bauer, Cueto & Eovaldi as most likely to be dealt
— Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) August 24, 2020
Two pitchers the New York Yankees should and might be considering in a trade:
Trevor Bauer:
While Bauer has a tumultuous relationship with Gerrit Cole, winning a World Series might convince them to solve their indifferences. Bauer is off to a fantastic start in 2020, posting a 0.68 ERA over 26.1 innings pitched.
He has allowed just two earned runs and struck out 41 batters so far this year, showing off how fantastic his stuff is.
Ultimately, he might cost an arm and a leg for the Yankees, but he would make their starting rotation that much better. He is currently on a one year, $17.5 million deal, which would give the Yankees ample time to extend him. With Paxton, J.A. Happ, and Masahiro Tanaka set to hit free agency, they can take the majority of that money and allocated it to a pitcher like Trevor, who would immediately make the Yankees’ starting rotation one of the best in the league.
More info on Trevor Bauer here!
TOP ARTICLE:
–5 trade targets for the Yankees
Mike Clevinger:
Another Pitcher that has been connected to the Yankees is Mike Clevinger. He might be the most intriguing name to enter the rumor mill. He was optioned to the minor leagues along with Zach Plesac for violating the team’s COVID-19 protocols. While he is signed through the 2022 season, bringing him to the Bronx would be beneficial for the Yankees. The primary issue is his image. After disobeying team rules, would any clubhouse actually respect him?
This would suggest that Bauer is the better option of the two but may cost more given his absolute dominance this year. So far in 2020, Clevenger has a 3.24 ERA over 16.2 innings. He struck out 15 batters but walked 10, which is an alarming statistic. His numbers are fantastic since joining the majors in 2016, and considering he is on a multi-year deal still, his value to the Yankees would be exponential.
However, it would cost general manager Brian Cashman multiple prospects and potentially two starting players.