Clayton Kershaw

3 starting pitchers the Yankees could pursue when free agency 2.0 starts

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clayton kershaw, yankees

Before the lockout commenced, the New York Yankees had a one-year, $25 million deal on the table for Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. Verlander elected to stay with his present team on a two-year, $50 million deal, which includes a player option for the second season.

Clearly, the Yankees understand they need to find another quality starter to pair with Gerrit Cole, given his inconsistencies toward the end of the season in 2021. They hoped Verlander would offer them that quality, and after missing on the majority of talented players during the earlier portions of free agency, they will have to dabble in the secondary market when the lockout finally ends.

Three pitchers the Yankees should consider when free-agency opens back up:

1.) Carlos Rodon

One of the top starters on the market is Carlos Rodon, who had his best season to date in 2021. Starting 24 games for the Chicago White Sox, Rodon posted a 2.37 ERA, 12.55 strikeouts per nine, and an 82.2% left on base percentage. He collected 13 wins over 132.2 innings, seeing his velocity and spin rate increase significantly. Notably, he used his fastball on 58.7% of his pitches, the highest of his career. His secondary pitches are a slider and changeup, slowly inching away from using his sinker, which he factored in earlier on in his career.

If the Yankees are able to sign Rodon on a shorter-term contract, it might be a good move with high upside. Considering he has just one proven year of fantastic play, committing for more than two years would be overly optimistic. A two-year deal with a third-year team option might suffice.

2.) Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw has dealt with his fair share of injuries in the past but has also pitched in over 100 innings in every one of his 14 MLB seasons, aside from the abbreviated Covid campaign in 2020.

This past year with Los Angeles, Kershaw posted a 3.55 ERA with 10.65 strikeouts per nine and a 71.7% left on base percentage. As a lefty pitcher, the Yankees would love to have more diversity in their starting rotation, but he has seen a significant drop-off in velocity, relying more on his slider in recent years.

Kershaw’s fastball was used on just 36.8% of his pitches, hovering around 90.7 mph. His slider saw a 47.5% usage, the highest of his career. He also incorporated his curveball in a fair amount at 15.1%. Kershaw would likely cost a pretty penny, but the expectation is that he stays with the Dodgers, given his lengthy tenure there. However, if he becomes available, the Yankees will undoubtedly have their name in the hat, considering the lack of options on the market.

3.) Zack Greinke 

If the Yankees want to take a bigger risk, 38-year-old Zack Greinke also presents a historically solid pitcher. This past season with Houston, he earned a 4.16 ERA, winning 11 games and posting a 6.32 strikeout per night rate. Greinke isn’t known for his strikeout abilities but has an awesome sequence of pitches at his disposal.

Greinke contains a fastball, sinker, changeup, slider, and curve ball, using all of them a fair amount. His fastball has experienced a dramatic drop-off in speed, hovering around 89 mph in 2021. However, given his spin rate and great pitch movement, he could be a decent option for one or two years at the back end of his career. He might not be the number two he used to be, but it seems he still has a bit of juice left in his arm.

Yankees Rumors: Agents believes Yankees will come out swinging after lockout, starting pitcher to target

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New York Yankees, Brian Cashman

There is a reason to believe the New York Yankees will be big players once the lockout ends between the owners and Players Union. After remaining quiet in the early stages of free agency, allowing teams like the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers to scoop up the majority of quality shortstops, the Yankees do have a few options left at their disposal.

The obvious names revolve around Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, who represent either a long-term solution or short-term stopgap depending on the strategy general manager Brian Cashman institutes.

However, for those worried the Yankees won’t be active when things return to normal, several player agents believe they are gearing up for an exciting second half of free agency.

“There are player agents who continue to believe that once baseball business is reopened, Hal Steinbrenner’s team will be among the more aggressive teams—and in particular, might revisit conversations with the representatives of [Carlos] Correa and [Trevor] Story,” ESPN’s Buster Olney reported.

It seems that Steinbrenner wanted to see how the luxury tax threshold was affected by union negotiations, and if things change, it could benefit the Yankees in a long-term way.

Clearly, he had a financial motive for Cashman sitting still while talented players were plucked off the market without much resistance. The Yankees’ GM did convince Steinbrenner to make an offer of $25 million over one season for Justin Verlander, but that was about as aggressive as they got.

At this point in time, the Yankees have several weaknesses on the roster, and starting pitching remains one of them.

After the majority of talented starters were scooped up off the market, one option they could consider is Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.

It is entirely possible that Kershaw sticks with LA next season, but if he considers an alternative club, the Bombers could make sense on a short-term contract worth big money year-over-year.

Kershaw is coming off a 3.55 ERA season over 121.2 innings, including a 10.65 strikeout per nine rate and 48.5% ground ball rate. Kershaw has pitched over 100 innings every season in his career, aside from the Covid abbreviated campaign. He has dealt with injury in the past, but he can serve as a reliable second option behind Gerrit Cole.

The veteran pitcher has seen a decrease in velocity with his fastball over the last three years or so, settling in at 90.7 mph during the 2021 season. His fastball usage has decreased exponentially to 36.8% but has seen an increase in the usage of his slider at 47.5%, maintaining solid velocity.

If the Yankees are willing to spend, Kershaw should be a target at the very least, but I wouldn’t rule out Carlos Rodon as a potential fit as well.

Yankees could pursue one bonafide ace in free agency when lockout ends

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clayton kershaw, yankees

The New York Yankees failed to make a big splash before the lockout in free agency, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stay quiet after the fact. General manager Brian Cashman likely planned to wait until after the lockout to spend, but he did miss out on several big names that would’ve helped improve the team.

The starting pitching rotation remains a liability, especially since Gerrit Cole needs another top player to play Robin to his Batman. Cashman offered Cole’s former teammate, Justin Verlander, a one-year, $25 million deal. We know that the Yankees are willing to spend on a sufficient starter, but they also missed out on Robbie Ray, who just won a Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays.

There are a few quality options left on the market, one of them being Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. At 33-years-old, Kershaw is still pitching well, hosting a 3.55 ERA this past season with 10.65 strikeouts per nine and a 48.5% ground ball rate.

Kershaw’s ability to generate ground balls is perfect for Yankee Stadium, and considering he hasn’t dipped above a 3.55 ERA since his rookie season in 2008, there’s no question he has a bit of gas left in the tank.

With that being said, he’s not a high-velocity pitcher by any means, hovering around 90.7 mph with his fastball. He only throws his fastball on 36.8% of his pitches, based on last season’s metrics, but saw a big increase in slider usage and still incorporates a curveball into his repertoire.

Given his lack of power, the Yankees may overlook him for a more strong-armed approach, but it is clear he can still offer value at the right price. Of course, there’s always the question of whether Kershaw is even willing to move to the East Coast after spending his entire career in California. Given the Dodgers didn’t extend a qualifying offer to their Ace, it opens up the door for a potential move.

Some may say that Kershaw is headed into the final years of his career, but he’s only two years older than Cole and is coming off a solid campaign where he pitched 121.2 innings. He’s had a myriad of injuries in the past, but that may give the Yankees a bit of leverage to drive his price down.

Is the idea of signing Clayton Kershaw of any interest to you? Comment here!

MLB News: The Ray’s Glasnow allows six runs in Dodgers win in Game 1 (videos)

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Tyler Glasnow won over the New York Yankees, but the Los Angles Dodgers took him for six runs in Game 1 of the MLB 2020 World Series. On a beautiflul night in Arlington, Texas the Tampa Bay Rays and the Dodgers took to the field to play the first game of the seven game Fall Classic. The first three innings of the game were uneventful and both pitchers put down their opponents.

Tyler Glasnow first faced trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning. With Muncy on base, Cody Bellinger hit a homer to right center, scoring Muncy for the Los Angeles lead. The Tampa Bay Rays got a run back when Kevin Kiermaier homered to right field in the top of fifth inning.

The bottom of the fifth was a nightmare for Glasnow and the Rays, as the game got out of reach. Glasnow allowed four Dodger runs in the fifth inning, and Ray’s reliever Yarbourgh couldn’t prevent two more runs, left on base by Glasnow from scoring. Meanwhile, the Dodger’s starter Clayton Kershaw sat for nearly 30 minutes. But that didn’t stop him as he pitched a scoreless top of the sixth inning.

Mookie Betts waited until the bottom of the frame to hit his first home run of the postseason, a long one to left field. Fleming in for Yarborough, struggled as he allowed two balls to the wall for the Dodgers 8-1 lead. Devin Floro took over for Kershaw in the seventh inning. Ji-Man Choi, with two on, pitch hit for the Rays causing a pitching change as the Dodgers went to Victor Gonzalez as Rays countered with Mike Brosseau, the ALDS hero. Brosseau singled, allowing another Rays run for the Dodgers 8-2 lead. Kiermaier, who got the home run against Kershaw, singled, driving in another Ray’s tun. Gonzalez got out of the inning with a comebacker double play, Dodgers 8 Tampa Bay 3. Clayton Kershaw got the win and Tyler Glasnow the loss.

Tampa Bay didn’t seem to have it altogether like they did in the ALCS. The Los Angeles Dodger’s Clayton Kershaw showed off for the Dodgers being dominant, allowing only two  hits and one earned run. Previously he had to deal with near-constant criticism about his postseason track record, he delivered six innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight batters and allowed two hits and a walk wiping away any criticism of his performance. Meanwhile Tyler Glasnow struggled throwing 112 pitches before the fifth inning. That the most pitches thrown in so few innings in postseason history, since they were tracked in 1988.

Mookie Betts did it all in the game, he scored two runs one from his homer in the sixth innings. He became the first player in World Series history with 2+ steals, a homer, and 2+ runs in a single game! But the real hero of the game was Cody Bellinger. He homered and made a fantastic over the wall catch to prevent an Austin Meadows home run.

The best of seven MLB series will continue tonight in Arlington at Globe Life Field at 8:08 pm. Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers will face Blake Snell of the Ray. Both teams will then have a day off on Thursday as they revert back to the Rays having home field advantage for the next three games at the same Globe Life Park. A game six and seven if needed will be on Monday and Tuesday of next week.  For MLB the bubble in the postseason has been very successful, not a single players has come down with the coronavirus.

MLB News: The Los Angeles Dodgers/Tampa Bay Rays World Series gets underway tonight

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With the New York Yankees out of MLB and licking their wounds along with the Houston Astros, many fans are still interested in the Fall Classic. Those interested want to see close games with a series that goes the full seven games, with outstanding pitching and long ball heroes. I can’t promise you any of these things, but for sure, it will be an exciting series with two teams that are very energized.

The Tampa Bay Rays haven’t been to the World Series since 2008, and the Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t won a World Series since 1988. The game tonight will be almost freaky as the cameras pan around, and you see and hear the cheers, and moans of real fans in the stands, albeit limited.

Tonight’s game and all the World Series games will be at the brand new Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers, in Arlington, Texas. The game time will be 8:09 pm, and the game-time temperature will be about  80 degrees and will stay in the upper ’70s throughout the game. The skies will be clear, and a perfect night for baseball in the open Globe Life Field. The game will be broadcast on the Fox Network.

First out on the mound will be pitching ace Clayton Kershaw as the first two games, the Dodgers will be the home team. Kershaw on the year was 6-2 with an ERA of 2.16. In the postseason, he was 2-1 with an ERA of 3.32. Kershaw is a seasoned veteran in the World Series with four starts in his career and one relief appearance. Kershaw relies mainly on a slider and a low ’90s four-seam fastball with some backspin. The 32-year-old, 6′ 4″ 225 pounder has re-invented his pitching in the last two years by adding a changeup to his repertoire.

The Tampa Bay Rays will start their strike-throwing Tyler Glasnow, who has pretty much cemented his place as the Rays ace over Blake Snell. Glasnow won his Wild Card Game against the Blue Jays, beat the New York Yankees on October 6, but lost his short rest to the Yankees on the 9th even though he didn’t have an earned run. In his last outing against the Houston Astros, he lost, giving up four runs in six innings.

Glasnow’s shortcoming is that he is basically a two-pitch pitcher; he throws a high ’90s four-seamer and a mid-’80s curveball.  He rarely throws a change-up. Despite being a two-pitch pitcher, he had 91 strikeouts in the regular season and had the fourth-most strikeouts in all of the baseball’s postseason with 25K’s.

I give the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kershaw the edge in Game 1.