SPANISH HARLEM – The New York Yankees continue to add to their roster and it seems that pitching is their main focus to date. And how Brian Cashman & Co faring so far? Glad you asked. I will address the additions and give my take on their value.
With the Yanks, you never know if they are fully done dealing and making this team better but as of right now, you have a good look at what this team will look like when spring training comes around. Let’s start with the trade and go from there.
Jameson Taillon
In most situations, when you trade for a guy with upside that has shown a great deal of talent, you would be happy. I do like the trade but the major sticking point here is that Taillon is coming off his second Tommy John surgery. One is bad enough and I know that they didn’t trade their best prospects for him but when you consider that you already have Luis Severino and Corey Kluber on the team, it might not be the type of pitcher you would want to add to an iffy staff. Kluber is throwing – and that’s great – while Severino is working to come back this season. There is a lot of uncertainty and a ton of risk.
If everything works out the way it would in a perfect world, you would think that the Yankees have a rotation that can win a championship. That’s all you can ask for as a fan. This is not a perfect world and Aaron Boone will have to be careful with 2/3’s of the rotation. You want these guys going into the postseason healthy and that’s a lot to ask for. On paper, I like the pieces they have in place but I’m just not sure we are in a better place than we were the day before.
Darren O’Day
After trading Adam Ottavino, the front office knew they needed some help in the bullpen. By adding O’Day, you have a durable pitcher that fits right in. I wasn’t a big fan of trading Ottavino because I felt that he could have a bounce back season but once he was gone, the Yankees brought in a pitcher that has had success. He will be in the middle of the pack when you consider some of the power arms the Yankees have in the bullpen and that’s a perfect place to be. The funky motion will help against right handers and give Boone another option that can come in and get outs.
That’s it for me, comment below and come back tomorrow for Grinding Ax or Cam James – whichever draws the long straw.
Until next time…
