Yankees predicted to acquire All-Star hurlers from Nationals
Now, the Bronx Bombers can turn their focus towards pitching. Options will be at a premium.
Their starting rotation has been hit hard by injuries. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are both out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Their bullpen could also use some work
Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru of MLB.com recently proposed a wild trade idea that would allow the Yankees to land another package from the Nationals. This proposal would land left-hander MacKenzie Gore and closer Kyle Finnegan in New York.
"The Yankees and Nationals have already dealt with each other this month, so we know the line is open. Breakout star Gore (3.52 ERA, 11.0 K/9) is 26 years old, entering his first year of arbitration, and profiles a lot like current Yankee Carlos Rodón and perpetual trade target Dylan Cease. Finnegan (4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) is a serviceable reliever as is. And from another angle, he's a guy who came up with a good fastball but never figured out how to miss bats, which is basically where the Yankees found Luke Weaver, who is now a load-bearing player on that roster," Sepe-Chepuru wrote.
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Gore is 4-10 with a 3.52 ERA and 3.0 WAR in 21 starts for Washington. He also has recorded 144 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings pitched.
Finnegan has struggled a little bit recently. This year, he has saved 20 games, but is 1-4 in his 40 appearances with a 4.38 ERA.
However, both pitchers are former All-Stars, and a change of scenery could help them both as they could leave the Nationals behind, who are out of contention.
The Yankees are firmly in the race, and a move such as this could allow them to bounce right back into the American League East race. They are four games back of the Toronto Blue Jays entering Wednesday.
We'll see if they decide to make this move.
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