Yankees Rumors: Gio Gonzalez, Ervin Santana Among Pitching Options, Manny Machado No Closer To Deal

Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals — Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Washington Nationals reacts after giving up a walk in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park on May 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Even with spring training just around the corner, the New York Yankees might not be done adding free agents. No, that doesn’t mean the team is entering the Bryce Harper Sweepstakes or has upped their offer to Manny Machado, but they could bolster their rotation.

New York is considering signing another starting pitcher, according to Fancred’s Jon Heyman, who named Gio Gonzalez, Ervin Santana and maybe Wade Miley as possibilities. The Yankees have room for another pitcher that can start after trading Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds.

Yankees look very solid on paper but are considering adding a starter for depth. Gio, Ervin, maybe Miley among possibilities.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 31, 2019

General manager Brian Cashman made it clear at the start of the offseason that the team prioritized improving its starting pitching. The Yankees traded for James Paxton and re-signed both J.A. Happ and C.C. Sabathia.

A rotation comprised of Paxton, Happ, Sabathia, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka is a solid one, though it could certainly use some depth. Sabathia will turn 39 years old in July after having a health scare this winter, and he hasn't thrown 200 innings since 2013. Tanaka has faced a DL stint in each of the last two seasons.

Gonzalez, 33, had a 4.21 ERA with 148 strikeouts in 171 innings last season. He posted a 2.96 ERA in 201 innings in 2017.

Santana, 36, missed almost all of last season with an injury. He had a 3.38 ERA in 2016 and a 3.28 ERA in 2017.

Miley, 32, was limited to 16 starts last season, but he had a career year with a 2.57 ERA while allowing just 7.9 hits per nine innings.

Patrick Corbin was atop the Yankees' wish-list as the No.1 starter in free agency, but the team wasn't prepared to come close to matching the Washington Nationals’ offer of $140 million over six years.

The Yankees are still in the race to sign Machado, though their reported offer isn’t close to the contract the infielder is seeking. Because Machado seemingly hasn’t gotten anything close to a record-setting offer, New York remains a possibility. All things being equal, the Yankees would likely be Machado's first choice.

According to the latest reports, Machado could remain unsigned for some time as he weighs his options.

Major league baseball