Yankees Rumors: Gio Gonzalez Draws Interest, Dallas Keuchel Unlikely Despite Luis Severino Injury

New York Yankees’ pitcher Luis Severino was scratched from his spring training start shortly before a game Tuesday afternoon with right shoulder discomfort. While the severity of the injury is unknown, it does raise questions regarding what the team might do if a member of their rotation is lost for a significant portion of time during the 2019 MLB season.

After signing a few quality free agents to short-term deals, there had been rumors the Yankees’ final addition could be a player that would provide them with depth in the rotation. According to Fancred’s Jon Heyman, New York has had discussions about Gio Gonzalez prior to the Severino news.

Gonzalez, 33, is the second-best starter that’s still unsigned in free agency. He might no longer be the same pitcher that finished sixth in the 2017 NL Cy Young voting, but he’s a quality veteran that you can rely on for an extended period of time.

After the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Gonzalez from the Washington Nationals on Aug. 31, the left-hander proved to be a valuable part of the pennant race. Gonzalez went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 25.1 innings, contributing to the Brewers’ NL Central championship.

Gonzalez won’t command a lucrative, long-term contract, especially at this point in the year.

Dallas Keuchel is the only free-agent starter that is clearly better than Gonzalez. The left-hander has been unable to land the nine-figure contract that he’s been seeking after posting two All-Star seasons in the last four years with the Houston Astros.

It would probably take a serious injury to Severino for the Yankees to consider Keuchel, and even then the team probably wouldn’t make a long-term commitment to the 31-year-old. New York reportedly was unwilling to go higher than $100 million for Patrick Corbin, who was the No.1 starter on the market.

Keuchel has reportedly been interested in playing in New York and might have to settle for far less than his asking price. Could a short-term contract for big money be a possibility if Severino ends up missing a lot of time?

Keuchel has managed to find success as a pitcher that doesn’t rely on high velocity during a time in which hitting triple digits on the radar gun is valued more than ever. After winning the 2015 AL Cy Young award and making the 2017 All-Star team, Keuchel went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 2018.

Keuchel has a 3.31 ERA in 51.2 playoff innings.

The Yankees have been hoping for Severino to have a bounce-back season. He finished third in the 2017 AL Cy Young race and was a contender for the award in the first half of last year. The 24-year-old had a disastrous second half, posting a 5.57 ERA after the All-Star break and giving up six runs in his only ALDS start.

Severino signed a four-year, $40 million contract at the start of spring training.

New York re-signed starters J.A. Happ and C.C. Sabathia in free agency. They round out a rotation that is projected to include Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton.