New York Yankees: Biggest Needs This Offseason
By Sean Dyer
Frontline Starting Pitcher
The New York Yankees will only need a frontline starter if Masahiro Tanaka opts out of the final three years and $67 million of his contract. We’ll know the answer by Saturday.
Until then, a top-of-the-rotation pitcher is a need for the Yanks. Luis Severino and Sonny Gray are great but you need more than two top pitchers to win a World Series.
A trio of Severino, Gray, and Tanaka could get the Yankees a World Series ring. It got them one win away from an American League pennant this year. Tanaka was dominant in the postseason (which could convince him to opt out), Gray pitched well but didn’t get any run support, and Severino will continue to improve as he matures.
If Tanaka leaves for greener ($$$) pastures, then New York will need to add another top arm this offseason. With the goal of getting under the $197 million luxury tax threshold, signing one of the top free agent pitchers (which is a thin market) will be costly for the Yankees.
It is certainly in their best financial interest if Tanaka opts into the final three years of his deal but we’ll just have to wait until Saturday to find out his decision.