The New York Yankees have a lot of work ahead of them, but time is running out. The team will begin the 2024 season in just over a week, and already there is a gaping hole in the starting rotation.
The Yankees recently lost 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole to an elbow injury, and he will miss one or two months of play.
Since the news of Cole’s injury, the team has been connected to a few pitchers. The Yankees also lost out on 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to the San Francisco Giants due to a high payroll.
In the unlikely event that the Yankees add another player, it will probably be at a low cost. If New York makes a big deal, it will have to pay a big tax.
Two-time All-Star Johnny Cueto is one guy who has been mentioned as a viable option for New York and might make sense, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald.
“Opening Day is next Thursday but the club still has options, with various pitchers still unsigned thanks to this slow offseason,” McDonald stated. Pitchers like Jordan Montgomery and Michael Lorenzen, who are both still unsigned, have been linked to the team. Guys like Mike Clevinger, Johnny Cueto, and Noah Syndergaard are also available in free agency. Montgomery was reportedly holding out for a seven-year contract earlier this month, but the other players won’t need to pay a large sum of money to sign.”\
Since Cueto is 38 years old, the Yankees’ budget will probably include a deal for him. Despite his advanced age, he might make a reliable pickup. Cueto had a rough 2023 campaign with the Miami Marlins, recording a 6.02 ERA in 13 games; but, in 25 appearances with the Chicago White Sox in 2022, he recorded a 3.35 ERA.
He could strengthen the Yankees’ rotation if he could get back to his 2022 level of play.
