New York Yankees’ Path Forward After Getting Rejected by Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Now that Yoshinobu Yamamoto has chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Yankees have a lot to think about. The Bronx Bombers were primarily focused on the Samurai Japan ace for the past month. To lose after getting so close must sting, but unfortunately, the Pinstripes don’t have much time for mourning. Now they must regroup and find adequate pitchers for their thin rotation and bullpen. 

Even though the Yankees were always all in on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they’ve always needed more than one pitcher. With the Bombers lacking a reliever and a trustworthy rotation, there are quite a few options for them in the market. Some choices they might love and some could prove to be highly risky. Are the Yankees up for it?

An unusual pitching market for the New York Yankees

The present pitching market is unusual in many ways. Though undoubtedly the biggest free agents still left are Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, they both are over 30. Giving a long-term contract to either of them could be a big risk. But the Yankees are in a win-now mode and both of these aces are coming off of their career-best performances. But there’s more that the Bombers can do.

There have been reports since October that the Bronx Bombers were interested in Cuban ace Yariel Rodriguez, who rocked the NPB in 2022. With Yamamoto gone, Rodriguez has suddenly become an even more attractive option. With Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays in competition, the Yankees will have to dig deep to get their hands on this 26-year-old.

In short, all is not lost for the Bronx. The team can even reunite with Frankie Montas, the pitcher whose injuries cut short his career with the Yankees. He could be a low-cost, low-risk addition to the Bombers’ squad. And that is probably what the Pinstripes are looking for to control their ballooning payroll. If not free agents, do they have the wherewithal to trade?

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The massive trading opportunities for the Bombers

Recent reports say that the Yankees are pivoting towards the Milwaukee Brewers’ Corbin Burnes. Even though Burnes has only one year left on his contract, he’d come costly. With the Bombers having already cleared much of their farm for Juan Soto, would they be ready to empty their clubhouse even more?

Other than Burnes, Chicago White Sox’s Dylan Cease is available for 2 years. The Yankees have many directions that they can go. The thing they have to remember is, that Aaron Judge is 31 and Gerrit Cole is 33, the clock is ticking on their primes, and the best time to go all in is right now.

Read more: What Does the New York Yankees Rotation Look Like After Yoshinobu Yamamoto Signed With the Dodgers?