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CARLSBAD, Calif. – In the way Brian Cashman spoke on Monday afternoon, at the unofficial Hot Stove kickoff, he could beef up the Yankees' starting rotation with something old, again and borrowed.
(Not something blue, though: the disappointing Sonny Gray will be swapped soon, the Yankees general manager reaffirmed.)
At the start of the GM meetings, Cashman shared the need for "multiples" for his rotation and he spoke positively of the Yankee's oldest player in 2018, CC Sabathia, as well as the JA Happ rental, both are free agents. The team has already hired the two South bosses for a return, Cashman said.
Something new could be a free agent like Patrick Corbin or Dallas Keuchel, or a commercial acquisition like Corey Kluber of the Indians or Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. A signature as a free agent seems more likely because a) the Yankees' farming system has weakened with the myriad of diplomas and trades and b) the fact that the team has managed to reach the luxury tax threshold last season allows it to exceed the threshold of $ 206 million this year. and pay a lower tax (20%, against 50%) on this surplus.
While Cashman would not be much interested in pitchers from other teams, he looked in more detail at Sabathia and Happ.
"It's someone we've had conversations with," Cashman said of Sabathia, 38, who's been Yankee since 2009. "I'd love that." come back, and obviously, nothing to say about it yet. He was a great Yankee and he still has time before him. It remains to be seen whether it will be with us or not, but I think he would like to stay and we would like to keep it.
"But it's a free market, so because of that, it sometimes complicates things. So we'll see where that takes us. "
Sabathia posted an ERA of 3.65 and a FIP of 4.16 in 29 starts for a total of 153 innings launched last season. He lost the last game of the Yankees of the season, the fourth game of the American League Division, when he allowed three points to the Red Sox in three sets.
He said that 2019 would be absolutely his last season, although he had slightly hesitated last season on this subject.
Happ, 36, excelled for the Yankees after passing the Blue Jays on July 26. In 11 starts totaling 63 ² / ₃ innings, he compiled an ERA of 2.69 and 4.21 FIP. Like Sabathia, he failed at the end, holding only two innings and more, giving the Red Sox five points in the first game of ALDS.
"We needed to start and he did a great job for us," Cashman said. "Because he's one of us, it's not surprising [we’d like him back]. Did I talk to John Courtright, his agent? Yes. I can not tell you if that leads you elsewhere. But since he is one of ours, he checks, of course, all the boxes. I would think that it would attract a lot of interest anyway. He has an excellent reputation in the game as a pro.
"The level of performance was exactly what we needed. He is well placed as a free agent. I do not know what will happen when the dust settles. Only he and his agent. But yes, he would be on the list with an interest in staying. "
Cashman and his lieutenants – Executive Vice President / Deputy General Manager Jean Afterman and Special Scientist Jim Hendry were among those present on the site Monday – will spend the week crammed with agents and other teams to store their closet once again.
"I am interested in adding more than one thrower. I think I have to add multiples, "said Cashman. "So, if I can do it, we'll see."
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