New York Yankees interest in Keuchel exposes concern over rotation

Lots of cracks in the foundation

Behind the facade, however, there is a big need to improve the Bombers rotation. For the sake of argument, we will leave Tanaka out of this part because he is what he has always been a very good starting pitcher who gives his team a chance to win almost every time he takes the mound. There are question marks however with the rest of the staff.

Severino isn’t due back until the end of July, at the earliest. The two-time all-star has been absent all season while he deals with an inflamed rotator cuff. Whether he can be effective once he returns or even if he can return this year remains to be seen.

Sabathia has been pitching well, but five-plus innings per start puts plenty of stress on the Yankees bullpen every fifth game. He will need to up that average or manager Aaron Boone should make him the fifth starter. James Paxton is a big strong pitcher who can bring heat. Last year “The Big Maple” threw 160.1 innings for Seattle, the highest single-season total of his seven-year career. Can he hold on and dominate through what is likely to be a long postseason run?

German is the surprise of baseball this season. Due to the injury situation, he was thrown into the fire early and has won nine of 10 decisions (at one point he won six straight starts). Unfortunately, there is nothing in his history that suggests he can keep it going. Traditionally rookie pitchers get roughed up after going through the league once and hitters can get another shot at them.

That leaves J.A. Happ. He’s had a miserable 2019 season with a 4-3 record, 5.09 ERA, and 1.23 WHIP. Those numbers look worse after the Yankees resigned him to a $17M contract this offseason, based on what he did for the team after coming over from Toronto via a July 26, 2018 trade. In 2018, he made 11 starts for the Bombers, compiling a 7-0 record and 2.69 ERA.