Here is one trade that the New York Yankees must make in wake of Gerrit Cole’s heartbreaking Tommy John diagnosis.
So, the Yankees are down two-fifths of the starting rotation that got them to the World Series last season. To be frank, that is not ideal. Max Fried, the big offseason acquisition, will now slot into the number one slot. Fellow high-priced signing Carlos Rodon, up and down during the first two years of his Bronx tenure, will start Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers. Marcus Stroman will once again rejoin the starting rotation, while veteran Carlos Carrasco and rookie Will Warren will likely take the last two slots.
One of New York’s greatest strengths heading into Spring Training, the starting rotation might now be somewhat of an Achilles heel. In order to solidify it, general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankee brass need to make a move. Although Cashman and manager Aaron Boone have said that the team is monitoring the market over the next few days, they need to do more. They need to bring in another arm, preferably one that can have a major impact like they hope Fried would. In this scenario, would calling the San Diego Padres about Dylan Cease fill the void? If so, it’s something that the Yankee GM and his staff absolutely should pull the trigger on.
Dylan Cease would inject fresh life into Yankees’ rotation
Despite this, the price for Cease, at least right now, would be high. Not as high as it would have been earlier this winter, but it will still cost a pretty penny. What kind of package would Cashman and the New York brass need to send back to San Diego? Well, a good comparison would be what they paid for outfielder Juan Soto last winter. In that deal, Soto and fellow outfielder Trent Grisham went to the Bronx in exchange for Higashioka and four pitchers: Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez. Thorpe was then flipped not too long afterwards to the Chicago White Sox in a deal for Cease.
Any package for Cease would likely have to start with infielder George Lombard Jr. or outfielder Spencer Jones. Lombard Jr. might not have a spot in the Padres infield any time soon, but Jones could make an appearance sooner rather than later. Let’s say he’s the focal point. Adding a couple of young arms, like last year’s first round pick Ben Hess and the rising Cam Schlittler, would be fine additions as well. Lastly, taking a flier on someone like outfielder Everson Pereira, who could play every day if given the right opportunity, would be a smart move on the part of Padres GM A.J Preller.
Once again, the price is high. Cease would also be leaving the west coast for the pressure cooker that is the Bronx. He’d also have to trim his beard a bit as well. Yet, he’d undoubtedly make the Yankee rotation instantly better and would likely earn that big money deal with the Yankees or whomever he’d want to sign with as long as he’s healthy. If he does decide to return to Yankee Stadium for the long haul, a front four of Cease, Fried, Cole and Gil would be awfully daunting come October. Isn’t that a good enough reason for Cashman to make this move? Only one way to find out.
