Yankees Rumors: Two Free Agents On New York's Radar After Trade, Machado, Harper Not Top Priorities

The New York Yankees made the first splash of the 2018 MLB offseason Monday when they traded for Seattle Mariners’ starting pitcher James Paxton. It’s probably only the start for the Bronx Bombers, who are looking to upgrade the rotation even further.

Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has indicated that he wants to add multiple impactful starters for the 2019 season. After trading for one, New York is likely to land one of the best free agent pitchers available.

New York has been linked to Patrick Corbin for several weeks, and the team is expected to make a major play for the left-hander. Corbin finished fifth in the 2018 NL Cy Young race by posting a 3.15 ERA and 246 strikeouts in 200 innings with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s expected to command the most lucrative contract of any starter this offseason.

Signing J.A. Happ wouldn’t exactly be an addition for New York since the team acquired the left-hander before the July 31 trade deadline. Happ became the Yankees’ best starter, going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 11 starts. He’d likely sign a much shorter deal than Corbin because he turned 36 years old in July.

Manny Machado might be a Yankee before all is said and done, but New York is currently focused on improving the rotation. New York was eliminated in four games in the ALDS in large part because their starting pitching wasn’t good enough. Three of the Yankees’ starters failed to go more than three innings against the Boston Red Sox.

Only the Red Sox scored more runs than the Yankees in the regular season. Four AL teams got a better ERA from their rotation than New York.

Machado could be a fit for the left side of the Yankees’ infield given shortstop Didi Gregorius’ recent Tommy John surgery and Miguel Andujar’s defensive struggles at third base. Bryce Harper is a less likely option because New York already has four outfielders capable of starting.

MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reported that the Yankees have discussed the possibility of signing Harper and moving him to first base, though it might not be a realistic option.