Push for pitching not likely, GM says
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — As weak as the starting pitching market was when the Winter Meetings began, it’s even less attractive now. Rich Hill signed a three-year, $48 million deal with the Dodgers Monday, taking the best available starter off the market. That leaves Ivan Nova, Jason Hammel and Derek Holland as the best remaining starters.
With that in mind — not to mention the skyrocketing prices for starting pitchers in the trade market — general manager Brian Cashman didn’t like the Yankees’ chances of adding an arm to the rotation this winter.
“I think it’s less likely that we wind up with a starter,” Cashman said. “It’s a tough market to be finding one. We’ve got three that are locked in with (Michael) Pineda, (Masahiro) Tanaka and (CC) Sabathia, then we have five that you already know about that will compete for two spots. More likely than not, that’s the route it’s going to be. Is there interest to improve upon that? Of course there is. Is it a realistic option? I think that’s more likely not the case.”
Luis Severino, Luis Cessa, Chad Green, Adam Warren and Bryan Mitchell are the five he referred to, giving the Yankees several young options to fill out the rotation.
HOLLIDAY FUNDS
Cashman was tight-lipped regarding Matt Holliday, who agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Yankees on Sunday. Holliday will undergo a physical Wednesday morning in New York, so Cashman won’t say much about the addition until the deal becomes final.
“With the DH role our preference would be to find someone that would be a short-term contract that allows us to retain our draft pick, that prioritizes payroll flexibility as we move forward, doesn’t block any kids going forward in the future,” Cashman said. “Obviously Matt Holliday would qualify under all those circumstances. Also someone that can play a position more than just DH. Obviously he would be someone that checks all those boxes. Until we’re in a position to publicly speak to him joining us, I would point out the qualities that would attract us to him.”
LOU BACKS BOSS
Lou Piniella was disappointed not to be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Era Committee on Sunday, as he received only seven of the 16 votes, five shy of the required 75 percent. But the former manager seemed more upset that George Steinbrenner was denied, receiving fewer than five votes from the committee.
“If it had come down to one vote between me and Mr. Steinbrenner, I would have given my vote to him so that he could go in before me,” Piniella said.
GUARDING GARDY
Cashman said he’s received great interest from teams looking to trade for Brett Gardner, who has two years and $25 million remaining on his contract.
“He’s a hard player to move because he’s on an exceptional contract, he’s extremely consistent, he’s as tough as they come and he’s a great clubhouse guy,” Cashman said. “I’ve been asked about him for a number of years now in the wintertime and in the summertime. He’s here not because I can’t move him; he’s here because I’m not comfortable moving him or haven’t been satisfied in my asks that would make me move him. You’re going through the process and you see if that changes. So far to this point, I’ve said no to a lot of different concepts thrown my way on it.”