The NY Yankees may go in on Max Scherzer eventually, as they need another starting pitcher to join Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia in the starting rotation and other targets potentially include James Shields, a Jordan Zimmermann trade, Cole Hamels trade, CJ Wilson deal, Dillon Gee or Edinson Volquez among other names on the market for Brian Cashman.
The Yankees missed the playoffs for the second straight season last year and now Cashman and company have to find a way to bounce back in an improved AL East. The Red Sox have made a number of big moves this offseason with Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval along with some pitching trades, while the Blue Jays have jumped out with Josh Donaldson and other moves. The Yankees lost Brandon McCarthy and with CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka coming back after injuries, the team needs more depth.
The Yankees could be in a slight rebuilding mode believe it or not after spending nearly half a billion last season, as they have a number of players looking to bounce back from down seasons and they have questions in the rotation. The team won 84 games last season and missed the playoffs after signing Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran and now they need those three players to have strong seasons without major injuries. A-Rod is coming back and he has major questions marks, while Chase Headley is also another target for the team on the market.
Headley has some attention on the market from the Giants and that could drive his price up, while the Yankees are also interested in bringing him back. The team may sign Scherzer if his price comes down, as he is looking for a $200 million deal after turning down a $144 million extension from the Tigers earlier in the year. The Cubs signed Jon Lester and that takes them out of the running, while the Red Sox, Giants and Dodgers all could be interested in making a move for Scherzer or Shields.
Scherzer is a bit younger than Shields, but Shields will cost less money and that could be the way the decision is made for the Yankees and other teams. Zimmermann and Hamels both have been mentioned in trade talks along with CJ Wilson and those could be potential targets for the Yankees if they don't go after Scherzer. Scherzer will turn 31 next season and he comes in after going 18-5 and that followed his Cy Young winning season the year before when he went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA,
Gee could be a potential option as well from the Mets, as he has been shopped, but he did not have a great year last season, going 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA. Shields is the more likely option for the Yankees, as he will cost less and comes in after going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA for the Royals. Shields is also a target for the Giants and the Dodgers, while Scherzer is not likely to go back to the Tigers. Detroit has made moves to try and avoid paying Scherzer huge money and they have David Price coming in after his trade to make up for that, at least for one season.
Cashman now has the chance to make some moves and the Yankees could end up with Shields or Scherzer if they decide to pay up.