{"id":37429,"date":"2020-08-28T12:50:59","date_gmt":"2020-08-28T16:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=37429"},"modified":"2020-08-28T12:50:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-28T16:50:59","slug":"potential-new-york-yankees-pitching-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/08\/28\/potential-new-york-yankees-pitching-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential New York Yankees Starting Pitching Trade Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Yankees<\/a> starting pitching this year has not been good. Other than Gerrit Cole<\/a><\/strong> who is 4-1 with a 3.51 ERA, the rotation is a huge question mark. They are a collective 4-4 with a 5.29 ERA. James Paxton<\/a><\/strong> is hurt, J.A. Happ<\/a><\/strong> is ineffective and Masahiro Tanaka<\/a><\/strong> has yet to win a game. Also, the Yankees are currently 2.5 games back of the first place Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To say the least, the Yankees must get a serviceable starter if they hope to compete for a World Series title this year. Moves for pitchers are already being made as Taijuan Walker<\/a><\/strong> was recently traded<\/a> to the Yankees division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays<\/a>. Despite Walker being off the board, there are several arms the Yankees could target before the August 31st trade deadline. Here is a look at three potential starters who could be in Yankee pinstripes very soon.<\/p>\n

Mike Clevinger<\/h2>\n

Mike Clevinger<\/strong><\/a>‘s name has come up a lot recently, but not for the right reasons. The very talented pitcher broke COVID-19 protocol after a night out in Chicago<\/a>. Not only did Clevinger break protocol, he lied about his actions causing a riff between him and his Cleveland Indians<\/a> teammates. As a result, he and fellow starter Zach Plesac<\/a><\/strong> were placed in quarantine and then sent back to the Indians Alternate Site.<\/p>\n

Clevinger made his first start since the incident Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins<\/a> tossing six innings, striking out six and allowing only two runs. There is no doubt as to Clevinger’s talent. In his five years in the league, he is 42-22 with a 3.20 ERA with 584 strikeouts in 523 1\/3 innings pitched.<\/p>\n

The problem now is that the relationship may be too strained to mend. The Indians are reportedly shopping Clevinger, who won’t be a free agent until 2023. With so many years of team control left, the Indians can attempt to get a big return for him in return if they have no intentions of resigning him.<\/p>\n

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Clevinger is definitely being talked about in trade scenarios. Indians are known to listen on everyone and some see winter trade as more likely. Price said to be \u201cridiculous.\u201d But it should be. Talented (141 ERA plus), young (29) and not a free agent for multiple more years.<\/p>\n

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 28, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n