James Paxton

Do the Yankees have a secret weapon in the starting pitching rotation?

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New York Yankees, Jordan Montgomery

The return of the Last Jedi, I mean Luis Severino, will give the Yankees a considerable boost in efficiency regarding the starting pitching rotation. Severino’s health is imperative to the overall success of the team, and losing him for virtually all of 2019 was significant, despite the Bomber’s securing 103 wins.

Expecting lesser players to crawl out of the woodwork to save the day in 2020 is a perverse logic, as what the Yankees did last season with the likes of Cameron Maybin, Brett Gardner, Mike Tauchman, and Gio Urshela is unheard of. General manager Brian Cashman has put the team in an advantageous position, signing Gerrit Cole and retaining Gardner, who will start in centerfield until Aaron Hicks returns from injury.

Other moves are expected to follow in the coming days, especially with star relief arm Josh Hader hanging in the balance. However, the secret weapon for the Yankees isn’t Severino, Cole, or any other big-name that litters the roster like a bunch of underage kids drinking Bug Lights behind a grocery store.

The player of notice is Jordan Montgomery, who has pitched two seasons of sub-4.00 ERA baseball, earning a solidified spot in the starting rotation. In an ideal world, Cashman would unload J.A. Happ’s $17 million per year contract off the books, making more room for Monty.

Can the Yankees expect Jordan Montgomery to bounce back?

After succumbing to Tommy John surgery in 2018, Jordan missed all of 2019 recovering. His latest bill of action was in 2017, where he logged a 3.88 ERA over 155.1 innings. Montgomery features a deadly curveball, which was his most frequent pitch over his two-year stint of health.

While using his curve, Monty recorded a .175 batting average against opposing hitters, a .281 slugging percentage, and a 42.8% whiff rate (2017). His fastball is probably his worst pitch, while he also utilized an above-average changeup and slider, giving him a reliable arsenal of options to work through batters.

His influence on the team should be far more significant than we imagine. The expectation is that he will slot in at the 5th spot in the rotation, behind Cole, James Paxton, Severino, and Masahiro Tanaka. When your worst starter has the quality that Mongtomery has, you can justify a bit of premature excitement.

New York Yankees starting pitcher welcomes Gerrit Cole with open arms

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

The moment the news broke that New York Yankees signed star pitcher Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million deal, the starters in the rotation began to celebrate with joy, starting with Luis Severino via Twitter. Adding such a lucrative arm to the mix should give the Bomber’s a significant boost in the efficiency department, and it should make their playoff hopes even more realistic.

Cole, 29, earned a 2.50 ERA with 326 strikeouts in 2019, both career-highs, which makes him not only the best pitcher on the Yankees but arguably in all of baseball. Some might believe that the other starters on the other team would feel threatened by his presence, but most were happy to realize they are in line to contend for a World Series title in 2020.

James Paxton, who will likely slot in as the No. 3 starter, was excited and welcoming to Cole.

“I heard the rumblings,” Paxton told MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM recently. “I was excited about it. I know Gerrit from quite a few years ago, we spent some time together. Obviously, the best pitcher on the planet, and I’m really excited to learn from him and pitch with him as well.

“I’ve watched other guys have some great runs and I think Gerrit was unbeaten for quite a long time last year. I think he lost a game in May and then not until the postseason he lost again.”

The pressure that accompanies playing in New York hasn’t escaped Paxton’s conscious, as the expectations fro Yankee fans are forever increasing, and adding Cole only contributes to that reality.

“I feel like when you’re playing in New York that there’s a little extra pressure because you know you’re supposed to win,” he said. “You know that everyone expects us to win so there’s just that extra little bit of pressure you put on yourself and sometimes that can be hard to get used to.”

With a rotation including Cole, Severino, Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, Jordan Montgomery, and potentially J.A. Happ/Michael King, the Yanks are in an advantageous position moving forward. Add new pitching coach Matt Blake to the mix, and the progression of the unit should take a significant step in the right direction.

Could the New York Yankees dangle Deivi Garcia as trade bait?

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

The New York Yankees don’t seem to be finished with their 2020 offseason wish-list, especially as talks with Josh Hader of the Brewers progress. With third baseman Miguel Andujar developing into a trade option, it boils down to prospects and who the Yanks are willing to part with if they’re keen on adding one of the best relief arms in baseball.

In a tentative deal with Hader, trading away No. 1 pitching prospect Deivi Garcia makes complete sense, as the value of his abilities could be reaching a peak. The transition from minor leagues to the MLB is not always a successful one, ask Chance Adams, who was just traded to the Kansas City Royals. The Yanks also sent Justus Sheffield, their expected top farm dog, to the Mariners in exchange for James Paxton, who was a serviceable starter in 2019.

The New York Yankees could dip into their prospect farm:

Sometimes, utilizing youth talent in trades is the best way to upgrade any given position immediately, rather than having to wait several years to use their services in a meaningful way. Garcia is still at least one year from playing a significant role for the Yankees, and at 21-years-old, there’s no reason to rush him to the top, especially after the signing of Gerrit Cole, arguably the league’s best pitcher.

The Bombers are in a fantastic position to make a serious run at a World Series title in 2020, and adding valuable pieces that can contribute towards a successful campaign is essential. The Yankees haven’t reached the World Series in a decade, which attests to owner Hal Steinbrenner’s enthusiastic attitude this offseason. General manager Brian Cashman was given the green light to pursue all talent, and this subsequently opens the door up for trading Garcia, who has dominated in the minor system at times.

Last year, Garcia jumped from A-Class ball to AAA in three months, making him the youngest pitcher to climb the system in the Yankees’ ranks. With a stacked starting rotation and adequate bullpen, if Cashman sees any weaknesses that could become problematic, Garcia could be a valuable commodity in a potential deal.

 

New York Yankees Extensions: Tanaka vs. Paxton

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New York Yankees, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka

With Gerrit Cole leading the rotation, you might be able to say that the Yankees have the best starting unit in all of baseball. The top two spots, assuming everyone is healthy, are set in stone, but the third spot in the rotation has caused a little debate.

Some people believe building off the second-half success, that the third spot belongs to James Paxton. Others think it should belong to last year’s Opening Day starter, Masahiro Tanaka. What first world Yankee problems having to debate which one of those two should be their third starter in the rotation.

However, another debate needs to be had featuring these two pitchers. Which pitcher should the Yankees try to extend before they hit free agency next year? With many players coming up that will be receiving big raises like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Gleyber Torres, etc. there very well might not be room on the books for both pitchers. Let’s breakdown each choice and see what we come up with.

The case for Masahiro Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka is the been there, done that Yankees pitcher. Tanaka has been in New York for six seasons, which has seen him go 75-43 with a 3.75 ERA (Baseball-Reference). Tanaka has also anchored the Yankees in the postseason where he has a remarkable 1.76 ERA in eight postseason starts. Going into next offseason, Tanaka will be 32 years old. Tanaka is not going to cost as much money as it would be to extend a guy like James Paxton.

The two-time all-star has been pitching the last several seasons with a partial tear in his UCL, and he just had surgery on his elbow to remove bone spurs in October. Because of these factors, you’re likely to see him on the less expensive end for a starter after next season. Could see him get a deal similar to the one that Madison Bumgarner just received from the Diamondbacks at five years with a salary of around $85 million. Of course, a significant benefit for Tanaka is the fact that he’s not a fastball pitcher, which bodes well for him as his career progresses. Nobody should be upset if the Yankees bring back Masahiro Tanaka after next season to be their third starter moving forward.

The Case for James Paxton

After a bit of a rough start with the Yankees, you could make the argument that James Paxton was one of the best pitchers in the American League during the second half of last season. Overall, Paxton pitched to a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA in his first year with the Yankees (Baseball-Reference). Like Tanaka, James Paxton will be turning 32 years old going into next offseason. When he is on his game, the guy is lights out. Last year he had his second consecutive year where his strikeouts per nine were over 11.

On top of that, he’s a left-handed starter, and we all know how much the Yankees loved lefty starters. Now Paxton, who is represented by Scott Boras, is likely to command more money than Masahiro Tanaka. Like Tanaka, Paxton will probably be looking for a five or six-year deal. However, the total salary number is probably going to be north of $100 million. Paxton has ace stuff pitching from the left side and, because of his injury issues in the past, has 300 fewer innings on his arm. While Tanaka is more proven on the big stage, James Paxton very well might have a higher ceiling for the Yankees.

The Verdict

In the end, I would throw the money towards James Paxton. Like I said above, I think he has the higher ceiling, and I think it would help balance the rotation out with Gerrit Cole and Luis Severino, both being right-handed. A 1-2-3 or Cole, Severino, and Paxton for the foreseeable future is one that gets me excited as a Yankee fan.

Now, in an ideal world, maybe they could bring both of them back, although unlikely. I know Yankee fans would love to see the four-man rotation they will see next year more over the next few years, but the Yankees will be watching their payroll closely. We all know that guys like Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres are going to get considerable paydays to be lifelong Yankees. I don’t think in this debate there’s a wrong choice which makes the discussion fun. I’d go with James Paxton, but it’ll be interesting to see how GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees play this over the next 12 months.

What do the other Yankee pitchers think about the Gerrit Cole signing?

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

The Yankees unveiled their “white whale” in Gerrit Cole on Wednesday afternoon, as the star pitcher brought his vintage childhood sign that he brought to the 2001 World Series. It read, “Yankee fan today tomorrow forever.”

Cole’s influence on the mound will not only give the Yankees their best chance at reaching the World Series but also finalize arguably the league’s best pitcher’s boyhood dream — Pitch for the men in Pinstripes.  Achieving this feat after evading their clutches twice before seems worth it in the end. The nine-year, $324 million, and bottles of 2004 and 2005 Masseto Merlot sealed the deal for the Bombers, who weren’t going to let Gerrit escape a third time.

When Cole was presented with the record-breaking offer, Scott Boras couldn’t find the reality in Cole’s eyes, stating:

“I didn’t say anything like for a few seconds, and he goes ‘G, are you there? You’re supposed to be f***ing screaming.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I was just a little taken aback.'”

Now, Cole will join an already solid Yankees starting pitching rotation consisting of Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, Domingo German, Jordon Montgomery, and J.A. Happ.

Let’s take a look at how some of the Yankees pitchers responded to the signing:

James Paxton, per SNY:

“I heard the rumblings and I was excited about it,” Paxton told MLB Network Radio on Tuesday. “Probably the best pitcher on the planet and I’m excited to learn from him and have him pitching on the squad.”

“The hitters can relax [when Cole’s pitching],” Paxton said. “That’s what I strive to do, to give those guys a day where they feel like they’re relaxed and they don’t need to put all the pressure on themselves and I think that’s the same thing for our [whole] starting rotation. There’s a really good group coming into New York this year to pitch and I think that everyone knowing that everyone is so good, I think it kind of takes the pressure off yourself with having to be so good.”

Luis Severino: 

The Yankees are excited to have such a dominant pitcher joining their ranks. However, the confidence Cole brings to the starting rotation and what he has to offer in regards to teachings will only benefit everybody.

What the New York Yankees starting pitching rotation could look like

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

With the New York Yankees preparing to blow past the luxury tax threshold in a record-breaking scenario involving the best free-agent pitcher on the market, Gerrit Cole, it’s only fair to assume the starting rotation is going to be excellent.

A realistic contract for Cole would land in the seven-year, $250 million range, breaking $35 million per season and making him the most wealthy pitcher in all of baseball. However, owner Hal Steinbrenner believed his starting unit didn’t need the extra support — fast forward several weeks, and there’s a blank check sitting on Scott Boras’ desk waiting to be filled in.

The Yankees have been after Cole since 2008 when he was initially drafted in the MLB Draft, but elected to attend UCLA instead. He was then traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Houston Astros in 2017, despite the Bombers’ interest.

Now, Cashman has a third shot at reeling him in, and it seems as if they are finally ready to put him in Pinstripes, which would bolster an already solid pitching rotation.

What would the New York Yankees starting unit look like?

The Yanks went a majority of 2019 without Luis Severino, their ace, and Jordan Montgomery, which forced them to depend more on Masahiro Tanaka, Domingo German, and others. The starters struggled for a majority of the season, needing ample help from the bullpen to smooth over rough outings.

Both Chad Green and Nestor Cortes Jr. were frequently featured in multi-inning roles to supplement the lack of capable starters. Factor in J.A Happ’s awful season and German being suspended just before the start of the postseason, and the perfect storm was brewing.

However, they’re in a position to piece together a stimulating rotation that’s preparing to welcome the best arm in baseball.

  1. Gerrit Cole
  2. Luis Severino
  3. James Paxton
  4. Masahiro Tanaka
  5. Domingo German
  6. Jordan Montgomery
  7. J.A. Happ
  8. Michael King/Deivi Garcia

This is an intimidating rotation for any opposing team. The first six pitchers are all capable of sub-4.00 ERA seasons and can dominate in postseason play. Steinbrenner has made reinforcing the unit a priority, despite blaming a lack of run production on the Yankees early exit from the playoffs this year. Nonetheless, with this grouping, the Yankees might only need to score 1-2 runs per game to edge out a victory.

New York Yankees: Do the Yankees have a true ace in their pitching rotation?

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

Lacking consistent quality starting pitching was a real burden for the New York Yankees last season. Even though the offense was the reason why the Yankees went down in the postseason, having dominant starting pitching would have helped tremendously.

Last season I think there was no clear ace. There were two guys, James Paxton and Domingo German, who had their streaks of several strong outings, and were the studs of the staff. But there was really no clear cut starter like a Gerrit Cole or Justin Verlander, that every time they went out you knew the team had a very good shot at winning.

Luis Severino is the ace of the Yankee starting pitching. He has been ever since the 2017 season and if it wasn’t for several injuries that hindered him last season, he would’ve been considered the ace again. I expect Severino to make a full comeback next season and put up great numbers like he’s used to doing.

There’s also an argument that James Paxton could be an ace next year. After having a rough start to the beginning of last season, he really turned it around and finished with a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA during the regular season.

Another possibility could be Domingo German, given that he avoids suspension from his domestic violence case that prevented him from playing in the playoffs last season. German was having a fantastic season with the Yankees before his removal from the roster, holding a 18-4 record with a 4.03 ERA. If he returns for next season there’s a case that he could lead the rotation.

I would love to add Masahiro Tanaka due to his absolute dominance in the postseason, but he’s just too inconsistent during the regular season. You never really know when he’s going to have a great outing or last 2.1 innings.

Of course, New York Yankee fans would love to see a Gerrit Cole or Stephan Strasburg signing during the offseason to immediately know they are getting an ace. However, if this doesn’t happen, I have full confidence in Luis Severino coming back and returning to his ace role.

Why the New York Yankees will go Gerrit Cole or go home

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Could the Yankees pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason?

The New York Yankees always manage to surprise the masses when it comes to signing high-priced free agents. Whether it be trading for a Giancarlo Stanton type player or signing a Jacoby Ellsbury, unexpected bust type, GM Brian Cashman always keeps us guessing on his moves.

This offseason, the hype centers around top pitcher Gerrit Cole, who was recently knocked out of the World Series by the Washington Nationals. Cheating allegations against the Houston Astros immediately followed the team’s knockout.

Cole is looking to separate himself from the doomed organization, and he will dive into a free agent market that’s begging him to set a record-breaking contract. However, the Yankees are loaded in the pitching department even without Cole.

The New York Yankees starting rotation currently looks like this:

-Luis Severino

-James Paxton

-Domingo German (suspension)

-Masahiro Tanaka

-Jordan Montgomery

-J.A. Happ

-Deivi Garcia/Michael King

Even without the services of Cole, who’s expected to break $30 million per season, the Yankees still have a solid group of starters that can get them through the regular season in one piece. The issue is the postseason, where Paxton elevated his game, and Severino pitched several hearty innings. German was forced out due to domestic violence allegations, and Tanaka performed as his usual quality self. It’s not worth factoring Happ into the equation who barely saw the mound until a bullpen game against the Astros late in the ALCS.

Adding a pitcher that can nearly guarantee a win is what the Yankees are looking for, and it would increase the probability of winning the 2020 World Series 10-fold. Having a four-man rotation of Cole, Severino, Paxton, and Tanaka would allow the Bombers to keep their top options ready to go in the later games of the postseason. Minimizing fatigue is the trick here, and if Cashman is willing to push past the luxury tax, overspending on Cole should be an easy decision.

Why the Yankees will settle for Madison Bumgarner over Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees looking into Madison Bumgarner?

Spending money hasn’t been a problem in the past for New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman, it’s just where they spent it that has posed challenges.

Unloading two monster contracts, one offered, and the other consumed in a trade, both landed in the outfield. Neither player featured in a full-time role last season, chewing up $47 million in salary space. Of course, these two Major Leaguer’s are Giancarlo Stanton and Jacoby Ellsbury. The latter is entering a battle with the Yankees, who are trying to recoup $26 million in cap space for the 2020 season after cutting the former Bostonian.

The allocation of money towards the outfield has been consistent, but the starting pitching rotation hasn’t seen much in terms of investment. This could be the offseason the Yankees break the bank and push beyond the luxury tax to acquire a top arm, but then again, history has shown us they probably won’t.

The Yankees could settle for a lesser pitcher:

Cashman could easily decide to pursue a starter like Madison Bumgarner over Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg. MadBum would be exponentially cheaper and wouldn’t require an excessive-year deal. He can still pitch quality baseball and is dominant in the postseason, a feature the Yankees are looking to add.

Madison earned just $12 million last season, finishing the year with a 3.90 ERA, the highest in his career. Considering James Paxton had the best ERA for the Yankees this season at 3.82, adding another reliable starter like the former San Francisco Giant would be a good move, for the right price.

The Yanks would likely have to unload around $16-18 million for his services, but if they’re not worried about the price, they can quickly pursue Cole, who will land in the $30+ million range in free agency. It all boils down to how much Steinbrenner is willing to approve, and comments earlier this offseason suggested he’s more keen on prioritizing scoring production than pitching.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner changes mind on free agent approach

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Could the Yankees pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason?

When the Yankees began their free agency approach this offseason, owner Hal Steinbrenner was quick to mention the lack of scoring production during the postseason, and that the starting pitching rotation was a problem.

Gaining back Jordan Montgomery and Luis Severino in a full capacity should bolster the unit, but adding reinforcements would give the Yankees a higher probability of winning the World Series in 2020. Ultimately, it comes down to Brian Cashman and Steinbrenner pushing beyond the luxury tax.

“If the 2020 season was to start tomorrow, I would feel considerably more confident than I did a year ago at this time,’’ Steinbrenner said. “We will have both Severino and Montgomery back. We now know that [Domingo] German can pitch effectively at this level. And we know [James] Paxton can be the guy that we were hoping for when we made that trade. We have [Masahiro] Tanaka, [J.A.] Happ, [Jonathan] Loaisiga, and perhaps [Deivi] Garcia at some point. A very good rotation.’’

While Steinbrenner was reluctant to admit the starting pitching could use a big-name free agent, he followed up his advocation for the current grouping with, “all options are open,” in an interview.

Last season, the Yankees passed on numerous big names, including Patrick Corbin, Manny Machado, and Bryce Harper. Two of the three would have been significant additions to the team, but luckily players like Gio Urshela and James Paxton rose to the occasion.

The Yankees will keep their eyes open in free agency:

Moving forward, however, the Bombers need to be more aggressive with adding world-class talent, as the organization has officially gone a decade without a World Series. Next season could be their best chance at winning it all, considering the Astros and Nationals will be losing their top pitchers.

We will have to wait and see if the Steinbrenner’s are willing to splash the cash, but the investment seems to be justified.