The New York Yankees have targeted the pitching market this off-season with the aim of adding some depth. Both the starting rotation and bullpen need reinforcements after the Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo trades. But amidst widespread rumors and speculations, the Bronx Bombers have not made moves to strengthen their pitching yet. This may make them overspend in a tough market. 

This could be attributed to caution as the Yankees’ front office wants to make the right move. Although this may be seen as the right move by some, it may now come back and bite the Bombers as the market starts to buzz.

The New York Yankees have waited a long time to make a move

Amidst a crucial off-season, the New York Yankees have emphasized pitching as the greatest need after acquiring Juan Soto. But the team may now have put themselves in a difficult predicament. With the market for pitching starting to buzz and pitchers joining teams, there is a high demand for the top names. Shota Imanaga, Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell, the top 3 free agent pitchers at the moment will demand high prices. 

By waiting for such a long time, the Yankees may have dug their own grave as the demand for such starting pitchers continues to increase. Furthermore, with such a thin market, the demand for the top hurlers is very high. This begs the question, will the Yankees be forced to overpay to sign the best pitchers? 

In this volatile pitching market, the belief is that the New York Yankees may indeed be forced to overpay. With teams such as the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants also competing, things may become difficult. Additionally, the trade market is even more skewed, with the Chicago White Sox demanding a massive return for ace-level star Dylan Cease and some wondering if the Yankees are targeting him. This may make a trade untenable for the Bombers. 

Yankees’ Shota Imanaga sweepstakes will also see difficult times

Shota Imanaga is thought to be one of the top remaining arms on the free agent market. Although his level cannot be compared to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, he has been a top starter in the NPB in recent years. The New York Yankees have shown clear interest, but with the Mets and other teams possibly bidding as well, they are likely to go over the $100 million projected contract for Imanaga. 

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It will be interesting to see how this market develops in the coming weeks. But the New York Yankees will be a frontrunner to add a top starter this off-season. Do you think they will overpay for a pitcher, or will patience pay off?

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