The NY Yankees may target Max Scherzer or James Shields on the free agent market along with a Cole Hamels trade or Jordan Zimmermann deal, as Brian Cashman needs to upgrade the rotation with CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Hiroki Kuroda after the way New York performed last season and making a major move could help the team return to the playoffs in the 2015 season.
The Yankees dealt with a ton of injuries in the rotation last year and now that Brandon McCarthy has signed with the Dodgers, they likely need to add at least one starter. According to Hardball Talk, the Yankees could get involved in Shields or Scherzer, as they have the money to spend on a major deal, although they have been reluctant to do that this offseason. The team spent money on Tanaka last year along with Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann and now they may have to do that again.
The team knows that Scherzer is looking for at least $180 million, while Shields would likely be cheaper on the free agent market. There are a number of teams interested in the players, including the Dodgers, Red Sox and Giants, as they lost out on Jon Lester to the Chicago Cubs. Hamels has been shopped this year by the Phillies and he could be a potential target for the Yankees and those other teams depending on how things shake out this offseason.
The Yankees made a move and have apparently signed Chase Headley after that was rumored, as Jon Heyman reports the Yanks signed him to a four year deal. Headley was being targeted by the Giants as well and now he is in and that means Martin Prado will be at second base mostly, while A-rod could be more of a DH and bench option. The Headley move was big for the Yankees, as they needed some offensive upgrades and they also needed a third base option, as Rodriguez is no guarantee after missing a year with his PED suspension.
The Yankees spent half a billion last season and that is one reason why they have been more conservative this offseason. The team likely doesn't have the prospects for a Zimmermann or Hamels trade, which is why Shields or Scherzer is more likely. Shields comes in at 33 years old and won 14 games last season with a 3.21 ERA and while he will cost a bit, it will be far less than Scherzer. The Tigers could sign back Scherzer, but that looks unlikely after they traded for David Price and he comes in after going 18-5 last season with a 3.15 Era, following up his Cy Young season from 2013.
The Yankees won just 84 games last season and now they are looking to get back into the playoffs. The Red Sox and the Blue Jays have improved quite a bit with their moves, including adding Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez, Rick Porcello and Josh Donaldson to the division. The Red Sox will be favorites coming in along with the Blue Jays if the Yanks stand pat with what they have now.