James Paxton

New York Yankees: Has James Paxton surpassed Luis Severino in the rotation?

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

There’s no question that Luis Severino can be an ace in the MLB, especially after in incredible first half of the 2018 season for the New York Yankees. He finished the campaign with a 3.39 ERA, racking up 220 strikeouts over 191.1 innings.

Severino is a quality rotational arm and has the tools to be the Yankees’ No. 1 starter given they don’t bring in a player like Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg this offseason. However, James Paxton might be climbing the rotational slots to slide in ahead of Severino, after an impressive 2019 season where he dominated in the postseason and offered consistent performances throughout the second half of the year.

Paxton had a bumpy inaugural season with the Yankees at times, though, logging a 9.00 ERA in the first inning of games before gaining confidence later on in the year. He showed he could be a trustworthy starter once he adapted to the anxiety and intensity of the Bronx. In the second half of the season, he went 10-2 and earned a 3.63 ERA compared to his 5-4 start.

Injuries have always been a significant concern for “Big Maple,” but he managed to start 29 games in 2019, the most in his entire career. That’s an extremely positive sign for a Bomber’s team that was plagued by ailments last season, forcing them to travel into the postseason without Giancarlo Stanton, Luke Voit, a healthy Aaron Hicks, Dellin Betances, and a rusty Luis Severino.

If the team can remain healthy in 2020, they will have a far better chance at reaching the World Series.

Who helped the New York Yankees extract the most value out of James Paxton?

Former pitching coach Larry Rothschild helped Paxton rely more on his knuckle-curve in 2019, which helped him rack up strikeouts and swing/miss ratio. After making the change, Paxton won ten consecutive games, helping his team reach 103 wins on the season.

The Yankees can go into next season, confident that Paxton will perform at a high level. If he can replicate the second half of the 2019 season, manager Aaron Boone will have a great starting rotation to work with.

Why the Yankees should prioritize Gerrit Cole over Stephen Strasburg

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New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole

Health, consistency, preference, you name it, and former Houston Astros ace Gerrit Cole probably has it. The New York Yankees have to make the conscious decision to pursue a premium arm this offseason, and general manager Brian Cashman ignited the fire beneath the free-agent market on Monday.

“We’re certainly going to be talking to all players,” the Yankees’ GM said at the first day of Major League Baseball’s general managers’ meetings. “Of course, we’re going to have to talk to [Stephen] Strasburg. We’ll talk to [Gerrit] Cole. We’ll talk to the higher-end guys, clearly, and have conversations there, and we’ll also talk about some surprise guys, I’m sure.

“Our staff will get together, whether it’s dealing with agents, dealing with clubs. It takes two to tango, so it’s hard to predict. Of course anyone would have an interest in players like that.”

The Yankees have a solid starting rotation even without adding a top arm. Still, the reinforcement of Cole or Strasburg would undoubtedly give the Bombers an advantage over just about any other team.

Imagine this starting rotation:

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

Having so many quality options would improve the Yankees’ chances of reaching the World Series for the first time in over a decade. Owner Hal Steinbrenner mentioned a lack of run support as the primary reason the team faltered in the ALCS, but starting pitching always factors into the conversation.

Why Gerrit Cole is the better option for the New York Yankees:

If Cashman is willing to splash the cash on a big-name free agent pitcher, they might as well go after the best on the market. Earning a 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts in 2019, both career-highs, Cole is undoubtedly the best on the market, and if the monetary differential is only a few million, grabbing the better of the top two should be an easy decision to make.

It also seems as if Cashman is willing to surpass the $208 million luxury-tax threshold. Cashman refused to dive into the team’s payroll, but the expectation is that upper management will give him the go-ahead to exceed the luxury tax if it means building a World Series quality team.

Will the New York Yankees jump on Mets’ Zack Wheeler in free agency?

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New York Yankees, New York Mets, Zack Wheeler

The New York Yankees might not be actively in search of a starting pitcher to supplement the loss of CC Sabathia, especially with Michael King and Deivi Garcia waiting in the wings. Still, the thought of bringing in a top arm is undoubtedly enticing.

General manager Brian Cashman could have three fantastic options to choose from if he elects to add a premium starter, which would make his rotation one of the most intimidating in major league baseball. To start, he has a potential Cy Young Award winner that finished the 2019 season 20-5 with an AL-best 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts. His name would be Gerrit Cole, who’s primed to smash the record for the biggest contract for a starting pitcher.

Cole is in line to earn upwards of $30 million per season ($200 million total). The Yankees can afford Gerrit, despite the luxury tax threshold, but their monetary investment might be better allocated in different areas. A cheaper pitcher could be more attractive, which is where former Met, Zack Wheeler, comes into play.

Wheeler will be “cheap” by no means, but he will land a bit lower than Cole on the market. He’s a safe fallback option that is just 29-years-old, similar to Cole, and set career highs in innings pitched (195.1) and strikeouts (195) in 2019. He’s a strong-arm pitcher with a deadly fastball — right down the Yankees’ alley-way. However, Wheeler has the opportunity to sign the Mets’ $17.8 million qualifying offer, but he’s expected to reject considering the pay-day that could be headed his way.

Opening the Bombers’ wallet will be the question Cashman has to face, as he’s been stingy in recent seasons in regards to pitching. He passed on Patrick Corbin last year, a move that could have paid dividends in the postseason, and failed to reel in Zack Greinke at the July 31 trade deadline.

This is a look at what the New York Yankees starting rotation ‘could’ look like given they signed Wheeler:

1.) Luis Severino

2.) Zack Wheeler

3.) James Paxton

4.) Masahiro Tanaka

5.) J.A. Happ

6.) Domingo German

7.) Jordan Montgomery

8.) Michael King/Deivi Garcia

Given the number of pitchers they have, it makes sense to pass on a big-named arm, but with injuries being a severe problem last season, being safe should be a priority.

Are the Yankees bluffing on their interest in Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg?

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The New York Yankees could pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason.

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner made it apparent that his starting rotation wasn’t the issue in the loss to the Houston Astros in the ALCS. He specifically mentioned his team’s scoring production with runners on base, failing to mention the struggles of the starters throughout the regular season.

However, as long as the starting rotation performs in the postseason, their efforts throughout the year don’t matter as much. Losing young pitcher Domingo German to a domestic violence case for the playoffs undoubtedly hurt the rotation’s efficiency, but he’s expected to return in 2020 after he serves a suspension.

With the rotation looking solid next year, Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman don’t have to spend big money on pitchers like Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg. Passing on both would leave the Yankees with this grouping of pitchers:

  1. Luis Severino
  2. James Paxton
  3. Masahiro Tanaka
  4. Jordan Montgomery
  5. J.A. Happ
  6. Domingo German (after suspension)
  7. Michael King/Deivi Garcia

This is a solid unit, but plugging in Cole at the top would give the Yankees the best in starting rotation in baseball, without question. A Cole, Severino, Paxton three-man rotation in the postseason would be deadly, and they would give the Bombers the best chance at reaching a World Series in over a decade.

The restraint from the Yankees will be in regards to price, as Cole is expected to ink a deal worth at least $200 million. Strasburg will also earn a substantial payday, but his injury history will limit his max-contract. Cole is set to break the record for the highest-paid pitcher, likely making over $30+ million per season.

The Yankees have the money to invest in Cole if they wish, and his stellar health makes him one of the most attractive options in recent memory. It ultimately boils down to the other weaknesses on the team, and aside from adding depth, every position as a bonafide starter readily available.

Catcher: Gary Sanchez

1st base: Luke Voit (re-sign on a cheap deal)

2nd base: DJ LeMahieu

shortstop: Gleyber Torres

3rd base: Gio Urshela, Miguel Andujar

Leftfield: Giancarlo Stanton

Centerfield: Aaron Hicks

Rightfield: Aaron Judge

The Yankees have a ton of youth player featuring on the team, giving them ample cap-space to go out and sign a premium free agent pitcher. If Cashman is keen on winning a World Series soon, signing Cole or Strasburg undoubtedly gives them a significant boost.

New York Yankees: Is Stephen Strasburg a possibility for the Bombers?

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Could the New York Yankees pursue Stephen Strasburg this offseason?

With the New York Yankees curious about the available starting pitching options this upcoming offseason, it leaves the door open for several quality targets. Of course, Houston Astros ace, Gerrit Cole, will top the list of pitchers the Yanks will undoubtedly pursue, but Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg could also be of interest.

Strasburg, who’s likely to opt-out of the final four years of his contract with the Nationals, will be seeking more money. However, there are beliefs that he wants to stay in Washington D.C. due to preference for comfort. His spectacular postseason, earning a 1.93 ERA proves he’s one of the best in baseball, but injury concerns have made him a liability at times.

Cole, who is the best option in baseball on the mound, has maintained his health throughout his career, while Strasburg has missed ample time. The latter will likely command less money than Cole, but neither will resemble anything close to being cheap.

Strasburg did pitch 209 innings this season compared to Cole’s 212, proving he can manage a full workload. The Yankees will favor Cole and his health, but general manager Brian Cashman stated that he’s not prioritizing pitching this offseason. He blamed a lack of run production for the team’s faltering in the ALCS, not the starting pitching.

Hypothetically, here’s a look at what the New York Yankees starting pitching rotation could look like:

1.) Gerrit Cole/Stephen Strasburg

2.) Luis Severino

3.) James Paxton

4.) Masahiro Tanaka

5.) J.A. Happ

This rotation would give the Bombers consistency in a place where they suffered consistent injuries and deficiencies this season. Paxton struggled during the regular season before taking over in the playoffs, and Severino only joined the team later on in the year to help in their postseason run. Tanaka was inconsistent during the regular season but dominated in the postseason, as usual, and Happ was a significant disappointment in every facet.

Alleviating any pitching concerns should be a priority for Cashman, even after his comments blaming the ALCS loss on the hitters. Cole or Strasburg are two fantastic players who would inject pure quality into the rotation — at a cost.

New York Yankees: Why we cannot trust GM Brian Cashman to sign Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees, Brian Cashman

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was right. It wasn’t pitching that lost the ALCS to the Houston Astros, who currently lead the World Series 3-2. Failing to drive runners in from scoring positions doomed the Bombers, and it was a reality that nobody imagined after such a dominate 2019 season on the bases.

As the Yankees featured top sluggers and contact hitters up and down their batting order, it didn’t seem to be enough to scrape out a win against an equally talented opponent. Their starting pitching was far more efficient than the Yankees’, though.

Trusting Cashman to upgrade a starting pitching rotation that suffered through constant injuries and inconsistencies throughout the season might be tough, and his reasoning for losing to Houston might attest to that.

 “Pitching is not what cost us that series with the Astros, at least in my opinion. I felt that our hitting with runners in scoring positions is what sent us home,” he said during his season-ending press conference this past Thursday.

Manager Aaron Boone went on to back up that statement. Still, there’s no question that adding an arm like Gerrit Cole would make the Yankees exponentially more dangerous, especially during the postseason. If you can’t beat them, join them…so they say.

Starter James Paxton, who was stellar during the playoffs with a 2.16 ERA (2 runs allowed in two games), reinforced the beliefs of Boone and Cashman, and I’m sure he’s confident he can earn the top spot after his showing this postseason. Cole would undoubtedly ruin those plans.

“I feel really good about the guys we have.”

“I’m sure they’re gonna go out and look to improve like they always do,’’ Paxton said of potential moves. “We have a great group here, and we can definitely get it done.”

It’s always good for current players to have confidence in their teammates, but the Yankees need to upgrade the top pitching spot, and if it means bringing in a player that barely ever misses time due to health issues, then so be it.

What would Gerrit Cole cost the New York Yankees?

Cole’s value is tremendous, but he will come at a cost. Somewhere in the $30+ million per-season range, to be exact. Cashman will have to take the “cash” out of his name to pay for a player like Cole, but it would be worth every penny considering the depth the Yanks currently have.

The New York Yankees outfield is all but secured with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Mike Tauchman, and more. The infield still has plenty of options, and third base it the only spot that could be a question mark unless Gio Urshela is the real deal. Miguel Andujar will also be making his expected return from injury.

If there’s any place Cashman can add a massive contract, signing the best pitcher in baseball isn’t an inadequate salary allocation.

Are the New York Yankees the favorites to sign Gerrit Cole this offseason?

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Could the Yankees pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason?

Gaining the best pitching baseball would not only be a massive boost to the New York Yankees starting pitching rotation, but it would provide them with a player to lean on when the going gets tough. This season, Bombers were forced to guess with the pitching at times, unsure if their starters would rise to the occasion or falter in the face of adversity.

James Paxton was one of the risers, as he pitched well in the postseason and proved his worth for 2020. J.A. Happ faltered, and Luis Severino was decent in limited action after missing a majority of the regular season. However, they have an opportunity to add an arm that would revolutionize their team and make reaching the World Series that much easier.

Houston Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole is the featured pitcher, and the Yankees will undoubtedly make a bid after speaking with mega-agent, Scott Boras. Cole will likely earn $30+ million per season, which could cause issues with the Yankees’ luxury tax threshold, especially if other players are being considered at a high price point.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon has also been linked with the Bombers, but having Miguel Andujar and Gio Urshela should satisfy their needs at the hot-corner if they have a legitimate shot with Cole.

Why the New York Yankees could lose out on Gerrit Cole:

There’s always the possibility that Cole takes his talents elsewhere, but there’s no indication that he does not favor the Yankees. He grew up a fan of the illustrious franchise but also comes from the West Coast, which could influence his decision. Alternatively, he did play for the Houston Astros in the south-east, which makes him coming up North a bit more realistic.

It could ultimately come down to money, and which team is willing to splash the cash for the best pitcher in the MLB. General manager Brian Cashman can not low-ball Cole in this process because any disrespect could send him to a different city.

Theoretically, if the Yankees managed to sign Cole, their starting rotation would look something like this:

  1. Gerrit Cole
  2. Luis Severino
  3. James Paxton
  4. Domingo German (if not suspended)
  5. Masahiro Tanaka
  6. J.A. Happ
  7. Jordan Montgomery
  8. Michael King

New York Yankees could solve starting pitching problem with top prospect

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

The New York Yankees elected to not rush the No. 1 pitching prospect in the minor league’s during the regular season, keeping him in the minors at just 20-years-old.

Deivi Garcia, one of the most highly touted young pitchers, is working his way into the big-leagues, and 2020 could be the year he finally reaches the mound.

General manager Brian Cashman commented on how great Garcia has looked, per NJ.com:

“For his age, to do what he’s doing,” Cashman said. “I was just looking at Baseball America last night and he’s listed as like, Double-A All-Star and I think it opened up with him being the youngest pitcher in the Eastern League. And I was like, he was probably the youngest pitcher in the International League, and if he got here, he would have been the youngest pitcher in the big leagues. It was an incredible run. But obviously he’ll go on the roster this winter and we’ll see what we got in the spring.”

The Yankees will add Garcia to the 40-man roster over the Winter and carry him into Spring Training. They will test his abilities against major league players in that scenario, allowing him to prove his value.

Garcia may be a part of the Yankees’ starting pitching rotation next season, even if they bring in a premium-level arm like Gerrit Cole over the offseason. Replacing CC Sabathia will be a priority, and whether it’s with home-grown talent like Deivi or an outside one, finding reinforcements is a priority.

What could the New York Yankees starting rotation look like next season?

With the Bombers look to add a real ace and several players returning from injury, they could have a solid starting rotation come next season. This is entirely theoretical, though:

1.) Gerrit Cole

2.) Luis Severino

3.) James Paxton

4.) Masahiro Tanaka

5.) Deivi Garcia

6.) J.A. Happ (?)

Bringing in one high-priced arm would be enough to solidify this rotation for the entire season barring injury. Severino returning to form and giving the Yankees a full-season of work would be a huge benefit. While the Yankees did manage to crawl to 103 wins during the regular season, they missed the presence of Severino and his consistency.

New York Yankees a legitimate contender to sign Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees to pursue Gerrit Cole this upcoming offseason?

The New York Yankees saw everything they needed to see from 2020 top pitching free agent Gerrit Cole in his dominant performance in game three of the ALCS.

Cole, who saw several instances of worry, managed to elevate his game to work through the Yankees batting order until he was relieved in the 8th inning. His seven strikeouts and four hits allowed were enough to keep the Yanks at zero runs until a Gleyber Torres homer in the eighth inning opened up the scoring.

The Yankees still fell 4-1 on the day, and now they will pick up where they left off on Thursday after a rainout Wednesday night. There is still plenty of time for the Bombers to make a comeback in the series, but their audition for Cole, who grew up an avid Yankees fan, proved to be well worth it.

Cole will undoubtedly garner the big bucks this offseason, and the Yankees should be at the head of the party to acquire his services. The 29-year-old is currently earning $13.5 million this season — his salary could reach $20 million per season considering his level of play and the quality he brings to any team.

The Yankees would effectively be replacing long-time pitcher CC Sabathia with Cole’s services, a massive upgrade at this point in CC’s career. The theoretical rotation would look something like this:

1.) Gerrit Cole

2.) Luis Severino

3.) James Paxton (?)

4.) J.A. Happ

Paxton, who’s on a one-year, $8.575 million deal, could be re-signed by the Bombers, who overpaid for Happ significantly. Keeping Paxton, who has been a stud during the postseason so far, makes complete sense, but the amount of money they would have to spend on Cole might make it difficult to retain him.

Does it make sense for the New York Yankees to pursue Gerrit Cole?

This answer should be simple – YES. Cole is not only one of the league’s best pitchers, but he’s young and has only breached the 4.00 ERA mark once in his seven-year career. Also, he’s never pitched in less than 17 games in any of his seven seasons, proving his health.

Staying active and healthy has been a struggle for the Yankees, especially this season, as they lost Severino for a majority of the campaign. Paying big money for a player that you can guarantee will be available every game and act as a certified “ace” is an easy decision to make.

 

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone mistake costs Yankees game 2 of ALCS

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New York Yankees, Aaron Boone

The New York Yankees fell to the Houston Astros 3-2 in the 11th inning on Sunday night in game two of the ALCS. The Bombers started off the contest with a Judgian blast, which gave them a 2-1 lead; however, right fielder for the Astros, George Springer, took advantage of a bad Aaron Boone mistake.

After starter James Paxton was pulled from the game after just 2.1 innings, relief option Chad Green dominated for two innings, allowing zero walks and striking out two batters. Boone elected to pull him in the fourth inning with two outs in favor of Adam Ottavino, who was stellar during the regular season.

The very first pitch Ottavino threw resulted in a long home run that tied the game at two apiece. Faulting Boone for this consequence of changing pitchers is an easy excuse, but the lack of offense was the primary cause of the unfortunate loss.

The New York Yankees offense was awful in game two:

Catcher Gary Sanchez went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, not to mention Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Gardner’s combined five strikeouts. The middle of the order accounted for eight of twelve Ks on the night, an unacceptable rate that must change if the Yankees are to take back the lead at home in the Bronx.

The Yankees will face off against Gerrit Cole in game three on Tuesday afternoon, and that might be the biggest challenge yet in their quest to reach the World Series. Cole had a 2.50 ERA during the regular season, and during the playoffs, he is sitting at 0.57 over two starts. He has only allowed six hits over 15.2 innings. Beating him will require a much better effort from the offense, and Yankees ace Luis Severino will need to match his quality at home.

Ultimately, it will likely boil down to the bullpen and which unit can weather the storm better. The Bombers did a decent job in game two, but pitching is only half of the battle.