Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Heyman: Yankees desperately seek a No. 2 starter

According to Jon Heyman, Matt Garza and Edwin Jackson are in the Yanks sights as they search for a No. 2 starter.
They like both pitchers. But so far the Yankees don't like the cost for Garza in terms of prospects, and they don't love the price tag for Jackson, either. The Cubs surely would like some combination of Jesus Montero, Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances for Garza. Jackson's asking price is said by sources to be about $60 million for five years.

...

The Yankees like Jackson's arm, his potential and his durability. But they wonder about his consistency. He is one of only three active pitchers 27 or younger with more than 30 games started each of the past five years, the other two being Matt Cain and Felix Hernandez. He is also one of only three age 27 or younger to have thrown 950 innings with no D.L. time the last five years. The others? Cain and Tim Lincecum.

As for those other names that have been floating around this offseason:
The Yankees' like Hiroki Kuroda, but there is no certainty he wants to pitch in New York. They do not appear to be in on the Jair Jurrjens trade discussions, nor even the Wandy Rodriguez or Gavin Floyd talks. And they haven't seemed anxious to go for Roy Oswalt.
Garza is really the only name that sticks out as a difference maker to me, but as has been the theme this winter, the Yankees aren't getting anything done without giving up Montero and either Banuelos or Betances, and I'm not sure I'd do that. Would you?
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