James Paxton

New York Yankees pitching continues to struggle, help is on the way

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New York Yankees, Domingo German

The New York Yankees have given up a combined 40 runs over the last five games, and their starting pitchers are on the hook for 29 of them, an atrocious number that nearly guarantees GM Brian Cashman bringing in another starter.

It’s obvious fatigue is starting to set in as players like Domingo German, CC Sabathia, and James Paxton are all struggling at an immense rate. German has never pitched over 85.2 innings in a season and he’s already at 91.2, Sabathia’s age is clearly getting the best of him and Paxton looks lost after reports of knee inflammation dampened his potential.

The return of Luis Severino should provide a boost given he can return to his former self, but it will take mountains to solidify the unit at this point in time, which is why a trade is becoming more likely with every passing day.

Yesterday, we talked about Clint Frazier being a trading piece, and today it’s nearly impossible to consider him less than that.

The Yankees have been linked to several quality options like Madison Bumgarner, Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer and more, and with the trade deadline being July 31, expect a move to be made soon.

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Could the New York Yankees and Cashman sit still?

It’s very possible the Bombers elect not to bring in another pitcher, but they’de be doing themselves a disservice and ultimately hurt their chances at a World Series run. The reality is, it’s necessary, and the fact they traded for Edwin Encarnacion out of the blue should attest to their sneakiness.

However, the 10th inning victory against the Twins on Tuesday night, capped off by a game-sealing Aaron Hicks mega-catch, was a sneak peek into the deterioration of the relief pitching corps. Aroldis Chapman can’t record a save for his life and Adam Ottavino lost his control. The fact they managed to win that game was simply a product of their insane run-support and defensive quality.

Things need to tighten up for the Yanks, and it starts with acquiring a starter than can carry the team when he’s featured.

New York Yankees ‘guaranteed’ a top pitcher before July 31 trade deadline

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The New York Yankees are looking into Cleveland Indians pitcher, Trevor Bauer.

The New York Yankees are by no means a team starving for wins, as they currently hold the best record in baseball at 64-34. However, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use the pitching support as their starting rotation struggles to maintain its shape due to injuries and the like.

Luis Severino is still working his way back, James Paxton is clearly ailing after being shelled against the Rockies over the weekend, and there’s no doubt more knacks will arise as the season continues.

Jim Bowden reported for The Athletic that the Yankees are ‘guaranteed’ to trade for one of the following prior to the July 31 trade deadline: Trevor Bauer, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, Mike Minor, Matthew Boyd or Madison Bumgarner.

Stroman has been a frequent flyer on the rumor mill for the Yanks, and his performance this year has made him a solid target if GM Brian Cashman is willing to deal. It’s expected that the Toronto Blue Jays will want a decent haul for their best pitcher currently.

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“The two starters who are most likely to be traded at this point appear to be the Toronto Blue Jays’ Marcus Stroman and Rangers southpaw Mike Minor,” Bowden wrote (paywall).

“The Yankees, Twins, Astros, Phillies, Athletics and Brewers have all at least inquired on both of them. Matthew Boyd of the Tigers is also available, but the asking price is astronomical – though of course, that could change in the next nine days.”

With two essential starters either on the injured list or struggling, it’s imperative the Bombers bring in another capable starter to supplement their deficiencies.

Here’s how each New York Yankees target has performed so far in 2019:

Marcus Stroman – Toronto Blue Jays (28 years old)
20 G, W-L: 6-10, 3.06 ERA, 117.2 IP, 93 K/34 BB, 1.249 WHIP, 0.8 HR/9

Trevor Bauer – Cleveland Indians (28 years old)
22 G, W-L: 9-7, 3.67 ERA, 144.2 IP, 170 K/56 BB, 1.182 WHIP, 1.4 HR/9

Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants (29 years old)
21 G, W-L: 5-7, 3.65 ERA, 125.2 IP, 127 K/26 BB, 1.178 WHIP, 1.2 HR/9

Mike Minor – Texas Rangers (31 years old)
20 G, W-L: 8-5, 2.86 ERA, 129.0 IP, 131 K/45 BB, 1.163 WHIP, 1.2 HR/9

Noah Syndergaard – New York Mets (26 years old)
19 G, W-L: 7-4, 4.36 ERA, 119.2 IP, 118 K/31 BB, 1.228 WHIP, 1.1 HR/9

Matthew Boyd – Detroit Tigers (28 years old)
20 G, W-L: 6-8, 4.13 ERA, 120.0 IP, 160 K/24 BB, 1.133 WHIP, 1.6 HR/9

No matter who the Yankees elect to trade for, all of these options are solid and can immediately leave their mark on the season. They will help exponentially once playoff time rolls around.

 

New York Yankees inching closer to Marcus Stroman deal

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Are the New York Yankees interested in trading for Blue Jays pitcher, Marcus Stroman?

As the July 31st trade deadline quickly approaches, the New York Yankees are looking feverishly for a starting pitcher to supplement the number of injuries piling up.

With Luis Severino expected to be out for another six weeks minimum, and James Paxton, CC Sabathia, and more struggling with minor injuries, it’s only right the Bombers look to add to the rotation.

The rumor mill has been hot and heavy and will continue to be leading up to the deadline, but Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman is beginning to make more season, despite some fan’s desire to stay away from him.

“Stroman is a New Yorker,” Sun columnist Steve Simmons wrote. “He wants to be a Yankee. He thinks he’s meant for this stage and this place and he hopes to convince Yankees general manager Brian Cashman that he’s worth pursuing.”

One of the more inconsistent pitchers in the league, Stroman has had a solid season so far in 2019. Earning a 3.25 ERA with 88 strikeouts and a 1.274 WHIP (the second lowest in his career with a minimum of 18 games starter), the Blue Jays pitcher is ripe for a deal that would send him to the Bronx.

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If his words match up with his abilities, he could be a fantastic addition for the Yanks and a catalyst in helping them succeed during the playoffs.

The primary issue is his cost, as the Jays are looking for a big return. The 28-year-old righty won’t be a free agent until 2021, which gives the team that deals for him two years of security (more like 1-1/2).

While Stroman is having a great season, he’s no ace. The Yanks will wait patiently for the return of their top pitcher, Severino, but having Marcus come in and fit into the rotation is a good idea given the price isn’t astronomical. It’s possible Clint Frazier emerges as a trading piece, but GM Brian Cashman would prefer to keep the offensive maestro.

Can the New York Yankees Succeed Without Signing a Starting Pitcher?

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

Sports fans always hear the term “defense wins championships” and that’s ultimately true, especially in baseball, where scoring is pretty scarce compared to basketball. The 2019 New York Yankees have been one of the more exciting teams in recent memory with their defense leading the way.

Both Gio Urshela and DJ LeMahieu have been quiet additions that quickly made an impact while younger players like Gleyber Torres has performed like a veteran. An area of concern for some is the pitching staff, who has been slightly inconsistent, especially in the starting rotation. With all that being said–

Here’s why the New York Yankees don’t need a starting pitcher:

Even with the starting rotation the way it is, the Yankees have only lost 31 games! To put this in perspective, the 1961 World Series champion Yankees had 29 losses at the All-Star break. This was with a lineup that included six All-Stars and a pitching rotation that included both Luis Arroyo and Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, who also played in that year’s midsummer classic.

The 2019 team is doing it with guys that will probably never reach the status of Mickey Mantle; they’re doing it with grit and they’re doing it with a smile on their faces. 

The Yankees will also have top-notch hurlers coming back from injury during the latter end of the summer. Both Dellin Betances and Luis Severino will be back and ready to contribute at some point during the second half, just when we need them. Until then, we’ll have young guys like David Hale, Stephen Tarpley, and Nester Cortes Jr. to step up to the challenge and hold the fort down. 

While the average age on the team is 27, there are some seasoned veterans on this staff that have experienced the bright lights of the postseason before. C.C. Sabathia is without a doubt one of the fiercest competitors on this team and as a 2009 ALCS MVP, he knows exactly what it takes to win those big games in October.

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Masahiro Tanaka is another pitcher that has had postseason experience in pinstripes. He may not have the postseason accolades like C.C. but has still posted a 1.50 ERA during the playoffs. 

Like many Yankees fans are, I am quick to doubt a player’s ability to turn around a mediocre season but that’s exactly what fans should not do for both J.A. Happ and James Paxton who have had sub-par seasons so far. This pair of lefties have the entire second-half to prove to the league why they belong in the Bronx and it’s likely to happen because success is very contagious.

Once the Bombers get healthy and firing on all cylinders, Happ and Paxton will join in on the fun and leave their struggles in the dust. 

 The Yankees do not need to acquire another pitcher to win another title, but they would be foolish not to. With Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer, Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard all on the trade block, why wouldn’t the Yankees pursue them? They all have postseason experience and we wouldn’t necessarily have to give up anyone on the big-league roster for them.

While Yankees prospect Deivi Garcia was very impressive in the MLB Futures Game and in Double-A this season, he would be the perfect fit for a team looking to get a good return. The Yankees already have all the tools they need to complete the end-goal, but what’s one more weapon to add to our arsenal? 

 

New York Yankees to make deal for starting pitcher before the trade deadline

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Are the New York Yankees interested in trading for Blue Jays pitcher, Marcus Stroman?

It’s only a matter of time before the New York Yankees strike a deal to bring a starting pitcher to the Bronx, it’s just a matter of who. Rumors of options like Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, Marcus Stroman and more have plastered headlines the past few weeks.

July 31st marks the trade deadline which is three weeks away and at some point, the Bombers should bring in another pitcher to add to a rotation that seems to be constantly affected by injuries.

What are the New York Yankees going to do?

General manager Brian Cashman commented on the current state of the rotation and if snagging a pitcher would be beneficial, according to his interview on MLB Network:

“Our interest is improving our pitching,” Cashman said. “Certainly the target would be to continue to reinforce the rotation because obviously that’s where the majority of your innings are going to have to come from, and we have a long way to go. Those innings are vitally important. We’re going to target starting pitching, and if not, we’re going to continue to reinforce the bullpen. Bottom line is just trying to add quality to what we already have.”

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The Yankees have been supplementing the loss of pitching with mid-inning relief pitchers. Nestor Cortes Jr., Luis Cessa, Adam Ottavino, and Tommy Kahnle have been leaned on heavily to pick up the slack.

Still surviving without Luis Severino, who went down with shoulder inflammation during spring training, has succumbed to multiple setbacks. The Yanks rushed him back and it ultimately backfired setting his timetable for return back several months.

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However, he could begin throwing again this weekend, which would begin a long road to a return. Late August seems to be a possible time frame.

CC Sabathia, James Paxton, and Domingo German are all currently dealing with individual injuries. Finding another starter to help fill the gaps has become a necessity.

New York Yankee should go after Tigers’ starting pitcher Matthew Boyd

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Should the New York Yankees pursue Detroit Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd in a potential trade?

One player that hasn’t made the rounds in the New York Yankees daily trade rumor-mill is Detroit Tigers’, Matthew Boyd. The right-handed pitcher would be a stellar addition to the Bombers’ currently weak starting rotation.

With Luis Severino expected to be out until August at the earliest, Domingo German fighting through an injury, and James Paxton/CC Sabathia both struggling with inflammation, finding a way to supplement the lack of talent currently available is a must.

The New York Yankees could stay put:

It’s very possible GM Brian Cashman elects to wait out the injury bug and utilize a multi-man rotation on a game-by-game basis, something that seems to be working for the Yankees and their run-supportive lineup.

However, Boyd offers immediate value, but wouldn’t come at a cheap price-point. The 28-year-old is under contract until 2023, which gives the Yankees plenty of value if they elect to pursue him in a trade.

This year, so far, he’s 5-5 with a 3.61 ERA over 16 starts. Boyd is essentially a strikeout machine, earning 118Ks up to this point. As he’s seemingly entering his prime, the Bombers would be getting great value from the young starter – a player that can help them in future years as well.

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I would expect outfielder Clint Frazier to be a part of this deal, as his offensive production and immense potential could be the catalyst. The Yankees would prefer to hold on to him, but he’s too valuable to not offer in a deal that would help the Yanks achieve a potential World Series win.

With the trade deadline being July 31, Cashman has plenty of time to continue searching for a player that will satisfy their needs at the right price. Boyd would be a solid option that could pay dividends.

New York Yankees setting sights on Nationals star Max Scherzer?

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Could the New York Yankees pursue Max Scherzer in a trade?

The New York Yankees have a pitching problem, and it’s not just their bullpen that has struggled as of late, it’s the starters as well. Masahiro Tanaka has lost touch of his renowned splitter, James Paxton has been playing through a knee injury, CC Sabathia has inflammation in his knee, and Domingo German was placed on the 10-day injured list.

Again, the Yankees can’t catch a break with the injury bug, and it may force their hand as we approach the trade deadline. Losing out on former Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel certainly hurt, but rumors have stated the Bombers might be looking into a potential trade for Nationals star pitcher, Max Scherzer.

It’s possible the New York Yankees pursue Scherzer:

Considering the fact that Nationals are sub-.500, it makes sense that they would be open to trading the pitcher. The Yanks have one of the best youth systems in baseball, and they have plenty of resources to push a deal through.

The 12-year veteran is 4-5 on the season but is pitching 2.83 with little run support. Last year, he earned an astounding 18 total wins with a 2.53 ERA. There’s no question he’s a premium talent player, my concern is his price tag.

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The Nationals might ask too much from the Yanks for their ace, but it’s coming to a point where the Yankees are losing their leverage as the starting rotation is running thin. It will take several months before the regular starters are back in their normal slots, but it seems as if Brian Cashman believes they can weather the storm.

Theoretically, the Yankees just need to make the playoffs, and they’re seemingly on track at the moment. Not paying top-dollar for a quality pitcher can be justified if they continue to win a majority of games. The problem is – even run support can’t supplement bad pitching at times.

 

Why the New York Yankees don’t need Dallas Keuchel

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Should the New York Yankees consider looking into starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel.

While most are wondering if the New York Yankees will need starting pitching help in the next few weeks, it’s important to recognize the success enjoyed by the team thus far. Sitting at 34-18 on the season, the Yanks have been breezing by with tons of injuries plaguing the team.

Losing Luis Severino before the starting of the regular season and now without James Paxton, CC Sabathia, and Jonathan Loaisiga, the rotation is in a bit of trouble. However, I don’t believe that supplementing the losses with former Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel makes much sense.

The reality is, Keuchel wants a long-term contract in conjunction with a boat-load of cash. The Yankees don’t need to spend that time of money when the team is surviving and has one of the best records in baseball.

As long as they can survive until after the All-Star Break, the Bombers will be ‘okay’. Eventually, Severino will return and bring his talented arm with him, and Paxton is about half a week away from rejoining the starting rotation. The expectation is that he will feature on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres.

But reports have indicated that Paxton still isn’t entirely healthy, as he will wear a brace to mitigate the flaring of inflammation in his knee.

“Hoping that he’s in line now to join the rotation,” Boone said. “He’ll fly back to New York (Sunday) but we’ll all get together to make sure he’s ready to join us and make that call.”

Sabathia recently joined the injured list with inflammation in his right knee and will be out for a few weeks. Losing quality starters certainly advocates for the signing of Keuchel, but as long as the Yanks are surviving and winning games, bringing him in on an unnecessary contract isn’t justified.

How can the New York Yankees counter poor pitching?

Alternatively, the offense can make up for the lack of pitching talent. With Didi Gregorius nearing a return, the Yanks will have plenty of firepower to increase their run support to help the pitchers.  Gaining back Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton eventually will further bolster the lineup and make the signing of Keuchel redundant.

New York Yankees: Tyler Wade Sent Down To Make Room For Loaisiga

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After Tuesday’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees made a few roster moves. The team sent down Tyler Wade to make room for Jonathan Loaisiga.

ESPN’s Coley Harvey reported that Loaisiga was in the clubhouse on Tuesday, and is expected to pitch on Wednesday.

Wade still can’t hit MLB pitching

Tyler Wade has shown time and time again that he cannot hit MLB pitching. The Yankees front office certainly thinks he can, and he spends time up even when there aren’t any injuries. That shows the Yankees “faith” in him.

This year has been a slight improvement from past years, but certainly nothing to boast about. He’s batting .204, his best year of three in the MLB (.155 in 2017, .167 in 2018).

He can’t show enough consistency at the plate to get constant playing time and a spot on the MLB roster. His baserunning and defense is sure valuable, but it isn’t enough for him to keep a spot on the roster.

A reminder why Loaisiga is up

Jonathan Loaisiga is coming up to replace the injured James Paxton, and will start on Wednesday against the Mariners. Paxton is on the IL with knee inflammation.

Loaisiga, has an ERA of 2.70 in three Yankee appearances this season (two starts). In two games started for the Railriders (AAA), he has actually pitched worse then in the bigs. His ERA is at 7.20 through 10 innings.

Despite struggling at AAA, Loaisiga will be coming up fully rested. He was expected to start on Sunday against the Syracuse Mets, but was scratched after Paxton’s injury.

The hope is that Loaisiga will only be needed for two or three starts before Paxton is ready again.

But for the meantime, the roster carousel continues as more and more Yankees hit the IL and different players are needed for different places. The Yankees need to just keep grinding along and do the best they can. 21-14 ain’t too shabby, that’s for sure.

Gary Sanchez Goes Yard Twice and Paxton Injured as New York Yankees Win 6-3

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New York Yankees, Gary Sanchez

James Paxton only pitched three innings due to an injury, but the bullpen stepped up, as well as the offense for the New York Yankees to beat the Twins 6-3.

The Yankees return home, and so does their offense

The Yankees got it going early in the first when Gleyber Torres singled home Brett Gardner. Luke Voit walked in the inning to extend his on-base streak to 42 games.

Voit also got a hit in the second, the ball staying in the infield, also registering an RBI.

The Yankees picked up two in the fourth off a wild pitch and a ground-ball to second off the bat of Gardner.

To conclude the offense, Gary Sanchez hit solo-home runs to left in the fifth and seventh for his ninth and tenth of the season.

Paxton’s brief evening

James Paxton was removed after the third inning with knee soreness, and will get an MRI on it Saturday.

He gave up two hits and a run, while walking three. It just looked like he was uncomfortable up there, and it showed in his performance. Now, the Yankees just have to hope that it isn’t too serious.

But luckily, the Yankees had a well rested bullpen.

Jonathan Holder pitched two perfect innings to continue his stretch of strong outings. Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle each followed with perfect innings.

But, come the eighth, Zack Britton came in for an inning of work. After a walk, he served up a two-run homer to Nelson Cruz.

But it never amounted to anything, as Chapman shut it down for the save in the ninth.

Andujar is ready

Miguel Andujar will be in the line-up and be activated on Saturday. He will be the first of a few that are close to returning. Stanton and Hicks will be ready next.

To make room for Andujar, the Yankees sent Mike Ford down to AAA.

Game two of the series will take place on Saturday at 1:00PM on MLB Network, ESPN+, YES, and Fox Sports Go. JA Happ (1-2, 4.68 ERA) gets the ball for the Yankees against Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.34) of the Twins.