For The Yankees to Win in October, They Need to Get Aggressive Now
If the New York Yankees want to avoid the early playoff exits that have ended their last few seasons and finally win a World Series, they have to pull the trigger on not just one pitcher, but two starting pitchers.
The Yankees need both Max Scherzer and Marcus Stroman.
We do not know exactly how injured Ace Luis Severino is going to pitch this year if he eventually returns, but there is a good chance he will not be ready to pitch as a starting pitcher in a playoff game. There’s a scenario where Severino may be another big part of the Yankees’ already stacked bullpen, but even that can’t be counted on.
At this point, I could take JA Happ deep and I haven’t played in a competitive game since 2016. He has to go after this season. He does not have an effective secondary pitch and his primary pitch, the flatball, is straight as an arrow. With age and added pressure from the the rowdy New York fans, he will continue to decline and struggle.
Scherzer
If the Yankees go out and get Scherzer from the Washington Nationals, he would become the clear-cut ace. The Nats, however are not out of this race just yet and might not be inclined to deal their best pitcher. There are also reports the Nats want Scherzer to stay with the team to presumably become their first Hall of Famer, but the Yankees should still make a run at him and if they do, I think they have the right package to land him.
The Yankees can offer the Nationals Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, Greg Bird, Jordan Montgomery, and Chance Adams. That is a huge haul and gives the Nationals the ability to trade Anthony Rendon as well for another big haul in an immediate rebuild to compete next season again. The Yankees would acquire a top 3 starting pitcher in the game, which is exactly what they need. They should not be worried about the luxury tax. The Evil Empire is back.
Stroman
Stroman would push New York from a very good rotation to an elite rotation. The Yankees would be elite in hitting, defense, starting pitching and the bullpen. The rotation this season would end up being Scherzer, James Paxton, Stroman, Masahiro Tanaka, and CC Sabathia.
The rotation next season would be even better with as Scherzer, Severino, Paxton, Stroman, and Tanaka. (Sorry Happ, but I do not see you lasting much longer here. Maybe they should give him the ol’ Jacoby Ellsbury treatment.)
You may have noticed that Domingo German is not in the rotation I laid out, that is because Stroman will cost the Yankees German and infielder Thairo Estrada.
German has never thrown more than 120 + innings in a season and still has refining to do, while Stroman is entering his prime with his era in the low 3s.
He also would fit in perfectly in New York.
Stroman is a Long Island native and a groundball machine. The Yankees defense with DJ Lemahieu / Gio Urshela, Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres would thrive behind Stroman, who would keep the ball in play in the bandbox Yankee stadium.
The Yankees would be able to hold on to two of their top prospects, Jonathan Loaisiga and Estevan Florial, while making themselves World Series favorites for the next two years.
They are on the verge of not winning a championship for the first time in a full decade since the 1920’s. The Yankees have the ability to pull this off, but will GM Brian Cashman continue to push the right buttons to push them past the Astros and looming Dodgers.
(Editor’s Note: Like every other player in this article, the hyperlink on Mike’s name leads to his Baseball Reference Page)
