The New York Yankees haven’t been as big of free-agent spenders in recent years as many expected. However, New York is said to be planning to spend the winter with three starting pitchers on their radar.
Injuries wreaked havoc on the Yankees’ rotation in 2022. Frankie Montas was out for nearly the entire season, and Carlos Rodön and Nestor Cortes both missed significant time. After losing their pitching depth from April to September, New York appears to be prioritizing depth in free agency.
The Yankees have already looked into Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, veteran hurler Jordan Montgomery, and Montas, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Yamamoto’s interest in New York has long been known, with the young Japanese pitcher regarded as arguably the best starting pitcher available this winter. However, he is expected to face a fierce bidding war, with multiple contract offers exceeding $200 million.
It’s likely one of the reasons the Yankees are also looking for starters to add depth to their rotation. Montas, who made one start, has fully recovered from a two-year-long right shoulder injury. He’s expected to draw a lot of interest in free agency, but he’ll most likely have to settle for a prove-it contract.
Montgomery would be a solid choice for New York. He had a 3.20 ERA in 188.2 innings pitched this season and has pitched 160 or more innings in each of the previous three seasons. He had a 3.94 ERA in 98 career games for the Yankees from 2017 to 22.
The Yankees may ultimately miss out on Yamamoto, with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers considered the favorites to sign him. Adding multiple starting pitchers to their rotation, on the other hand, could be the best thing for New York in the long run.
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