Ex-Dodgers All-Star Linked To Yankees To Help Add To Starting Rotation

New York needs to add to the starting rotation and there are some intriguing hurlers available

The New York Yankees need to add to the starting rotation this offseason but that doesn’t mean they need to add another ace.

Toronto Blue Jays' Hyun-Jin Ryu working on late 2023 return | TSN

New York already has Gerrit Cole on the roster and Carlos Rodón could return to form in 2024. The Yankees need another depth piece to help bolster the rotation. One hurler who could make sense is former Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Jays hurler Bluyun-jin Ryu, according to SNY’s Anthony McCarron.

“Not every transaction has to be a blockbuster, you know,” McCarron said. “Maybe the Yanks can hit on a reclamation project pitcher. Is that as sexy as signing Yamamoto would’ve been? Heck, no. But teams can build rosters in so many ways.

“Here’s our list of favorites from the non-marquee names from the free agent pool: Hyun-jin Ryu, James Paxton, and Michael Lorenzen. Ryu, who only made 17 starts over the past two seasons because of injury, and Paxton, an oft-injured lefty, are risks. But they both have stuff upside. Lorenzen threw a no-hitter last year for the (Philadelphia Phillies) and had a 4.18 ERA over 29 games (25 starts) for the (Detroit Tigers) and Philadelphia.”

Of this list, Ryu stands out as the most interesting player. He missed most of the 2023 season but logged a 3.46 ERA in 11 starts for Toronto. Ryu is a 10-year veteran and has a career 3.27 ERA over that stretch and one All-Star nod while he was a member of the Dodgers.

The Season That Was: Hyun Jin Ryu - Bluebird Banter

He is the exact type of low-cost option with a high upside that the Yankees could use. New York always could look for another top option like Jordan Montgomery, but it wouldn’t hurt to bring in Ryu as well.

Yankees Linked To Cy Young Award Winner To Fix Rotation After Missing Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Could New York land the multi-time Cy Young Award winner this offseason?

The New York Yankees seemingly had a shot to land former Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto but Cy Young Award winners: Gerrit Cole and Blake Snell win | AP News didn’t get their man.

Yamamoto was the most highly-coveted free-agent pitcher on the market and landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a massive deal. New York still needs to add to the starting rotation, though.

Luckily for the Yankees, there still are some hurlers available who could be an upgrade for New York. One pitcher who could make sense for the Yankees is San Diego Padres star Blake Snell, according to SNY’s Anthony McCarron.

“Blake Snell, who won the (National League) Cy Young this past season, is the top free agent starter remaining on the market, and ex-Yank Jordan Montgomery is next,” McCarron said. “Either would represent a needed upgrade in a Yankee rotation that is currently populated by ace Gerrit Cole, two lefties who had tough 2023s (Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes), and Clarke Schmidt. Question marks abound, no?

“Snell was 14-9 with an MLB-best 2.25 ERA for the Padres in 2023. He allowed just 5.8 hits per nine innings, the best in baseball. But he also led the majors in walks. While he also won the (American League) Cy Young with Tampa Bay in 2018, he’s never gotten even a single vote in another season.”

The 31-year-old will be expensive but would be a major pickup for New York. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and led the National League with an impressive 2.25 ERA in 2023.

New York clearly has money to spend — it offered Yamamoto a contract worth $300 million — so why not land the two-time Cy Young Award winner?