Yankees projected to bolster rotation by adding former AL wins leader

The New York Yankees come into the new year with a solid rotation. However, two of its top arms will be missing to start the 2026 season. 

Gerrit Cole will not be ready to go for Opening Day as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon will be the other pitcher out of action to start the new season after he underwent elbow surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. 

So, it would make sense for the Yankees to target a pitcher. But, they do not need to go after one of the top names; however, with their history of spending, that is not something that is out of the question. 

Yankees projected to bolster rotation by signing former AL wins leader

There are plenty of pitchers that the Yankees can target this winter. Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease will likely draw most of the attention, and for good reason. They are elite arms who could headline any rotation in baseball. 

However, if the Bronx Bombers do not want to break the bank, they could take a look at some of the smaller names on the open market. This would include someone like Chris Bassitt, whom Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes would be a great fit. 

"Chris Bassitt has pitched in New York before; he threw the ball well in a swingman role during the Blue Jays' run to the World Series, and at 36 years old, his market will likely be limited to short-term offers."

The former AL wins leader understands the pressure of pitching in New York and looked great this past season. He could pair well behind Max Fried and help stabilize this rotation until Cole and Rodon can return. 

After, he could stay in the rotation or be moved to the bullpen to help stabilize that. Either way, Bassitt offers a lot of value to the Yankees and could be an excellent addition.

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• Orioles projected to bolster rotation by adding former White Sox pitcher
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