Here’s the latest on the Yankees’ search for starting pitchers, via CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Heyman covers a long list of potential options, so be sure to click over to his article.
- John Danks of the White Sox appears to be among the Yankees’ top possibilities, Heyman writes. Heyman reported last week that the Yankees and White Sox were discussing a possible Danks deal. Danks, 29, has a 4.40 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 131 innings for Chicago this season. His contract, which will pay him $14.25MM in both 2015 and 2016, shouldn’t be a huge obstacle, although Heyman notes that Danks’ declining velocity (with a drop in his average fastball from 91.6 MPH in 2011 to 88.2 MPH this season) might be a concern.
- The Yankees do not seem to be discussing an Ian Kennedy deal with the Padres.
- New York isn’t currently thinking hard about acquiring Cliff Lee from the Phillies, since he’s currently working his way back from injury and should be able to clear waivers in August. The Yankees may not have the prospects necessary to acquire Cole Hamels, and he’s “barely available” anyway. The Yankees are not believed to want A.J. Burnett to return.
- The Yankees are more likely to consider signing Jon Lester in the offseason than to trade for him.
Cdiaz
Yankess go after dan haren & paul maholm lol you guys need more veteran presence lol
MeowMeow
I’m trying to imagine the Yankees attempting to make a trade for Lester xD
Brian Lynch
I’m trying to imagine them trying to make a trade for anyone when they have nothing to offer.
JacobyWanKenobi
I’m trying to imagine a new joke.
oswald
I’m not even sure that was supposed to be a joke. Unless of course you were talking about the Yankees farm system, which is, indeed, a joke.
Nuke Guy
I wouldn’t say that at all. They’re average right now, but everyone expects them to shoot up in the top-10 after this year’s international signing spree.
MB923
Keep thinking that. Most sites ranked them from 16th through 23rd in the offseason. So what does that make the 7-14 teams farm systems that are worse than the Yankees?
JacobyWanKenobi
That’s a pretty mediocre joke. Anywhere from a third to half of all remaining farms would be much funnier jokes.
Douglas Rau
Yet they still found a way to trade for Brandon McCarthy, who’s given them 3 straight quality starts, and Chase Headley, who is 8-23 (.348) with a homer and 3 RBIs in his first week with his new club.
yanksfan2010
Their is no way the Red Sox would trade Lester to the Yankees even if we had a real good prospect package to send to them. If they trade him it will be outside the American League East.
NH Yankee fan
Ellsbury could play a huge role in Lester coming here via FA. Don’t discount that!
VAR
Ellsbury didn’t have many friends in Boston. He was close with Jed Lowrie if that helps
BucknerRulz86
Exactly, which is why he jumped ship quick.
MB923
Source? (Not saying I don’t believe you though)
Ralph Esposito
Buenelos, Judge and Sanchez for Danks and Beckham. Yankees pick up the rest of J.D.’s contract as well.
Stratocaster
No way Judge or Sanchez go in a deal like this. If the Yankees trade for Danks it’ll be a salary dump for Chicago with a low level B or C prospect going back. The only way the WS get a better prospect is if they eat a ton of Danks’ salary.
Ralph Esposito
Yankees are hurting financially aren’t they. I was wondering why the clubhouse buffet spread was looking a little chinsy.
Douglas Rau
You’re not getting any of those 3 guys. Yankees are only talking to the White Sox BECAUSE he won’t command top prospects. And the Yankees are not in the business of bailing other teams out of bad contracts either. The White Sox are going to have to eat a ton of that.
ImDaBaron
The White Sox eating a small or giant portion of Danks contract shouldnt be a problem. Plenty of room on the payroll for next year.
Nuke Guy
No way. If the Yankees acquire Danks and eat his salary, the White Sox will get just a decent prospect (Peter O’Brien at best). Now, the White Sox can eat most of his salary and get a couple of decent prospects (Peter O’Brien and Miguel Andujar or something like that).
Ralph Esposito
I guess that means Piscotty and Martinez for Danks and Lindstrom/Beliserio might be a better haul. For New York, no Danks for you. You’ve got Capuano anyway.
Nuke Guy
I’m fine with that. I don’t want the Yankees to get Danks anyway. A few years ago, sure. But not now.
Ralph Esposito
You have better contracts to choose from than Danks. There’s Bartolo Colon. Edwin Jackson. Cliff Lee. Whoops! I guess Danks doesn’t look so bad anymore does he? Unless you don’t like under 30 lefthanders that is.
Nuke Guy
I’d take Cliff Lee over any of them. Danks is a back-end starter and the Yankees have enough of those. Not to mention, he had a serious shoulder surgery. I have no problem with under 30 left-handers. I don’t like John Danks.
Ralph Esposito
Tommy John is not a shoulder surgery.
Nuke Guy
I thought you were a White Sox fan. I figured you would have known about his torn shoulder capsule.
Ralph Esposito
Then go get Cliff Lee who is what, 38 and owed $50+ million. I wish you were the Yankees g.m.
MB923
Cliff Lee >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> John Danks
MB923
You are overvaluing Danks.
Ralph Esposito
You are certainly overvaluing the Yankees farm system. How many stars have come up through their system since 1996? A lot of overrated prospects.
MB923
Probably a lot more than the White Sox have (and their farm system is worse than the Yankees).
Guacamole
Let’s see. Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Phil Hughes, Austin Jackson, Dionner Navarro, Melky Cabrera . . . Not quite an all-star team, but you try to build a strong system when you’re always in the last 4-5 teams to pick.
Jonas Salk
Danks is easily the second best, and possibly he best, pitcher the Yankees would have in their starting rotation if they did acquire him. That might not be saying much, but to pretend he wouldn’t help them or improve their starting pitching is so ridiculous. Now it is just a matter of figuring out what that is worth and if the Yankees feel they have a legit shot at anything.
MB923
“Danks is easily the second best, and possibly he best, pitcher the
Yankees would have in their starting rotation if they did acquire him”
I Really hope you are joking, but very sadly I don’t think you are.
ERA+
Greene- 122
Kuroda – 99
Phelps- 105
McCarthy – 275 (yeah I”ll enjoy it while it lasts lol)
Danks – 90
Danks, like he is now, would be a backend starter at best if he was a Yankee. To say he would be the Yankees #1 or #2 pitcher is Ridiculous.
Jonas Salk
No it’s not. He has a WAR higher than anyone on their entire starting staff.
MB923
I think you want to re-check your numbers. You must be looking at the numbers for Danks’ best season which came about 3 or 4 years ago
Danks’ WAR is 0.8 in 131 innings
Kuroda – 1.8
Whitley – 1.0
Phelps – 0.9
McCarthy – 0.5 (in 18 innings)
Greene – 0.4 (in 24 innings)
Just give it up. You clearly want your team to give up a subpar pitcher with a terrible contract.
jjs91
It really doesn’t mean that. I don’t think you understand Dank’s value.
Donna Scappaticci
Like the Red Sox would trade Lester to the Yankess…
mantistoboggan47
They will just lose him to free agency next year to the Yankees. No need to trade him.
Ralph Esposito
Great! Spending $$ on Lester. The buffet spread will now be meatless.
MB923
I don’t have a clue what this is supposed to mean.
rich 3
If the Yankees get Danks, they will have $175 million on the books next year for 11 players. And that $175 million ain’t getting them too much lol. Especially if Tanaka gets TJS, they’re going to need to sign at least one more SP, if not two. As well as a shortstop and a bunch of other holes. If you factor in the luxury tax, this may be the year it costs them $300 million to put a team on the field.
bob 30
Danks but no Danks.
Douglas Rau
The last time the Yankees and the Red Sox made a trade, Bill Clinton was in the White House and the U.S. had a surplus, not a deficit.
JÅime
Heres an idea, how about the Yankees try to build players?