New York Yankees: Please don’t trade Chance Adams

The New York Yankees are pursuing a controllable starting pitcher on the trade market with Chance Adams as one of the prospects who could be headed out of town. It is in the Yankees’ best interest, however, to hang onto their top pitching prospect.

The New York Yankees re-signed CC Sabathia on Saturday to seemingly complete their starting rotation. Sabathia will join Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray, and Jordan Montgomery.

The Yankees, however, are reportedly not done adding to their rotation. It has been well known that they also plan on trading for a controllable starting pitcher to add depth.

New York has been connected to many names this offseason, including Michael Fulmer, Gerrit Cole, Patrick Corbin, Zack Greinke, and Chris Archer. The price it will cost to trade for any of these starters, however, is understandably high.

It seems as though Clint Frazier’s time in pinstripes will quickly come to an end if and when the Yankees trade for another starter. Although Frazier is an exciting prospect with a bright future, there’s just no room for him in New York’s outfield.

The acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton adds another outfielder under control for the foreseeable future, joining Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Yankees also have Brett Gardner locked up for the 2018 season. Unfortunately, Frazier doesn’t appear to have an immediate role in the Bronx.

Another name being thrown around as believed to be involved in a trade for a controllable starting pitcher is Chance Adams.

Adams is the Yankees top pitching prospect according to MLB.com and has been absolutely dominant over his minor league career. Adams has been especially impressive over the last two seasons since he entered the starting rotation.

In 2016, making 24 starts between High-A and Double-A, Adams went 13-1 with a 2.33 ERA and struck out 144 batters in 127.1 innings pitched. He followed that up in 2017 by going 15-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 27 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. Adams struck out 135 batters in 150.1 innings pitched.

Based on how his last few seasons have gone, Adams should be ready to make the jump to the big leagues at some point in the 2018 season.

The Yankees are looking for starting pitching depth by trading for a controllable starting pitcher. They could potentially go to a six-man rotation, give Sabathia or Tanaka extra rest at times, or send Montgomery down to Triple-A. However, they already have starting pitching depth in Adams.

They also have Justus Sheffield, Domingo Acevedo, and Albert Abreu who are expected to be major league-ready at some point in 2018.

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If the Yankees didn’t add another starting pitcher, Adams could provide the depth they are looking for. Sheffield, Acevedo, and Abreu could do the same but Adams has the most potential. MLB.com‘s No. 53 prospect in all of baseball, Chance Adams could be a frontline starter when all is said and done.

If Brian Cashman can land a Gerrit Cole for a prospect package centered around Clint Frazier and Domingo Acevedo, I would be ecstatic. Acevedo’s 103 mph fastball is electric and, worst-case scenario, he’s an unhittable late-inning reliever. However, keeping Adams and Sheffield in the farm system while landing a starter like Cole would be a huge win for the New York Yankees.

If it cost the Yankees Frazier and Adams to acquire Cole, I would have mixed emotions. Yes, they would add starting pitching depth with Cole, but I believe they would also be losing starting pitching depth with Adams.

Cole has proven he can pitch at the major league level and is more of a known commodity, but Adams has more potential and would also be cheaper and under team control for much longer.

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So Brian Cashman, go ahead and pursue a controllable starting pitcher on the trade market. But please don’t trade Chance Adams.