The New York Yankees will spend most of the offseason trying to rebuild on some promising roster pieces. With players like Luis Severino and Greg Bird poised to take over for the future, the question is who will be joining them. The Yankees' biggest need this offseason is another elite pitcher along with a replacement for Stephen Drew at second base.
The Yankees must decide the futures of Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda. According to the New York Post, the chances Nova stays put is high despite his struggles since returning from Tommy John surgery. Pineda might not have the same deal. According to Andrew Marchand and Wallace Matthews of ESPN.com, trading Pineda could be the best move for the Yankees. The pitcher has the talent to be a No.1 or No.2 guy, but he very rarely puts it all together to make it count. General manager Brian Cashman would be wise to listen to deals.
The Yankees could chase big names in the offseason in terms of pitchers. David Price is the latest pitcher to surface for New York as the Toronto Blue Jays are out of the playoffs and Price's contract is expiring. According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Yankees are not expected to pursue Price, Zack Greinke or Johnny Cueto if it means overpaying for the pitcher. The Yankees do not want to overspend on a starting pitcher when they need a high-handed bat and middle relief help.
A lot of their interest in top pitchers could be determined by the trade interest in Nova and Pineda along with the health of Masahiro Tanaka and the future of CC Sabathia. Tanaka underwent elbow surgery while Sabathia is undergoing treatment at a rehab center. Their futures will be discussed before making a call on contracts for players like Price or Cueto.
The Yankees want to spend big on an infielder. According to Matthews, Daniel Murphy will be pursued by the Yankees along with potentially Ben Zobrist. Yoenis Cespedes could also be a hot target for the Yankees as they need batting power. The Yankees could decide to spend big on them rather than grabbing a marquee pitcher this winter.