The Yankees are preparing to let go of 3 starting pitchers in 2021

The Yankees are heading into a short 2020 season, composed of just 60 games in which they will utilize three impending free agents. Next off-season will be interesting, as they will have to make decisions on three starting pitchers: James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and J.A. Happ.

The Yankees will be unable to retain all three, so general manager Brian Cashman will have to decide on one or none. There are other options on the market the team can pursue, but all three of these players are capable of starting in the MLB and should be heavily considered for retention.

Let’s take a look at the three free agents to New York Yankees will have to decide on:

1.) Masahiro Tanaka

Tanaka performed well in 2019, earning an All-Star appearance for a dominant first half of the season. He finished the year 11-9 with a 4.4 5 ERA over 182 innings pitched. He allowed 28 homers and 90 earned runs, significantly more than 2018, but a poor second half of the season damaged his numbers.

Aside from being a consistent pitcher, for the most part, Tanaka has playoff experience, pitching in elimination rounds the last three seasons.

The Japanese native will earn $23 million in 2020, an astronomical number that the Yankees will be unwilling to offer next season. Nonetheless, if he’s willing to accept something in the $12-15 million range, the Yankees might have a better shot at retaining him.

2.) James Paxton

Paxton is a fantastic pitcher and one of the more diverse arms in the Yankees rotation. As one of the only lefty starters, he brings an active arm to the mound, one that is capable of being a top gun on other teams.

The Canadian born pitcher earned a 15-6 record last season, posting a 3.82 ERA with 23 homers allowed over 150.2 innings. Overall, he was dominant in most categories, but struggled with walks, giving up a career-high 55. He has never been an All-Star or earned any awards for his contributions, but when healthy and playing at the top of his game, Paxton is as good as anyone.

In his first playoff experience last year, he posted a combined 3.46 ERA, allowing two homers over 13 innings. That was an essential experience that the Yankees will rely on this year if they make the playoffs. Nonetheless, Paxton recently endured from surgery to remove a cyst from his lower back, but with all signs pointing to a full recovery, the Yankees could heavily consider him on another short term extension.

3.) J.A. Happ

Happ had an incredibly tumultuous campaign in 2019, posting a 4.91 ERA with 34 homers an 88 and runs allowed over 161.1 innings. The 13-year veteran holds plenty of experience but has had an up-and-down career up to this point. Last season was one of the worst he’s experienced and was his highest ERA since 2011 with the Houston Astros.

I don’t anticipate Happ making a return in 2021, but he can be a serviceable starter this season. Manager Aaron Boone seems confident he can bounce back from a tough year, and his 2018 statistics would suggest he is right. Juiced baseballs could have played a significant part in his allowance of a career-high 34 homers.

Even if the former Toronto Blue Jay bounces back with a great campaign, the sample size will be too small, and he is too expensive to pay for an average pitcher.