MLB Free Agents: 5 Pitchers the New York Yankees Should Consider Signing
The 2015 Major League Baseball season doesn't start until next April, but the free agency period has officially begun.
The Bronx Bombers have a lot of issues and questions about the future. Next season will be the first year without Derek Jeter since 1994, and the drama of Alex Rodriguez is never ending. Masahiro Tanaka is a great pitcher, but he is coming off an injury-plagued season.
Here are five pitchers the Yankees should consider signing this offseason.
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer has been terrific with the Detroit Tigers over the last five seasons.
In 2013, he won the American League Cy Young Award with an outstanding 21-3 record. Last season Scherzer posted an 18-5 record and made his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance. Scherzer has a lot of experience pitching in the American League, so this will be no big adjustment for him. He will come at a high price, but Scherzer may be worth it for the Yankees.
Jon Lester
Here is an interesting player.
From 2006 to 2014, Lester played with the Boston Red Sox and successfully won two World Series championships with the team. Last season the Red Sox traded Lester to the Oakland Athletics, and there's a chance the Red Sox may want to re-sign their former pitcher. Lester won 16 games, the second most of his career. Lester has pitched nine years in the American League East and against the Yankees. It would be intriguing to see Lester in Pinstripes pitching against his former team.
James Shields
The Kansas City Royals had a memorable 2014 season, as they made their first World Series appearance since 1985.
It was actually their first playoff appearance since 1985 as well. Much of that success was thanks to starting pitcher James Shields. Shields isn't an elite pitcher, but he can certainly get the job done on the mound. Shields has recorded double-digit victories the last eight consecutive seasons, and he doesn't have a long injury history. The issue for the Yankees here may be that the Royals will do anything to re-sign their ace.
Francisco Liriano
If the Yankees can't get their hands on one of the three elite free agent pitchers, there's still more options available. One option may be left handed pitcher Francisco Liriano. The 31-year-old Dominican-born lefty is a reliable ground ball pitcher who is fully capable of starting 15 games per season. Liriano obviously isn't an elite ace like Madison Bumgarner, but for the right price, the Yankees can't go wrong on this possible signing. In Liriano's career he has pitched a no-hitter and received many Cy Young votes in the process.
Ervin Santana
Jake Peavy is a free agent, but odds are he will re-sign with the San Francisco Giants and Ervin Santana is two years younger. Santana can give the Yankees a lot more innings and games next season than Peavy will. Santana posted a 14-10 record with the Atlanta Braves last season and struck out 179 batters. The Yankees should have no problem getting Santana on their roster if they truly want him and may even want to consider using him as a relief pitcher at times. Just like Liriano, Santana has pitched a no-hitter as well.
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