The New York Yankees addressed their need for a left-handed power hitter by trading for outfielder Juan Soto at the Winter Meetings, but the price that GM Brian Cashman paid took a big chunk out of their pitching depth. The Bronx Bombers sent pitchers Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and Drew Thorpe, along with catcher Kyle Higashioka, for Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham. Three of the four hurlers pitched for the Yankees last season, and King (who had a 2.75 ERA, 127 K’s in 105 IP) was penciled into the rotation for 2024.
New York’s rotation has a great deal of uncertainty past Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. Lefties Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes are coming off of injury-plagued seasons, and righty Clarke Schmidt was adequate as a bottom-of-the-rotation starter, but the club lost veterans Luis Severino and Frankie Montas to free agency and lost out to the LA Dodgers on Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Cashman addressed his pitching needs by signing veteran Marcus Stroman to a two-year, $37 million contract. The 32-year-old righty was an All-Star with the Chicago Cubs based on a strong first half but struggled with a rib cage injury in August and finished with a 10-9 record and a 3.95 ERA. The former Blue Jay and Met has famously made statements on social media about Cashman and Yankees fans over the years but proclaimed that those battles are behind him.
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What the Yankees have to be concerned with is the lack of depth in their rotation and bullpen, even after the Stroman signing. They reportedly made an offer to NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell that agent Scott Boras rejected before opting for the cheaper Stroman, but the 31-year-old is still unsigned. The Miami Marlins have an excess of starting pitching and are looking for a shortstop, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, which is something that the Yankees could accommodate with prospect Oswald Peraza blocked by Gold Glover Anthony Volpe, but with over two months before the start of the season, Cashman may be waiting to see if any bargains fall into his lap.