The New York Yankees have a rotation problem. And Clarke Schmidt isn’t the answer. Carlos Carrasco was the latest reminder Tuesday in Detroit that general manager Brian Cashman has to do something if this season is going to be salvaged. The veteran gave up four runs in 4.1 innings during a 5–0 loss to the Tigers. Three of those runs came on home runs in the fourth inning. Carrasco was hit hard. The Tigers made loud contact all day, squaring up his fastball and showing little trouble timing him.
The 38-year-old has an ERA of 7.71 coming off two straight rough seasons where he was basically an innings eater. He was brought into spring training as an emergency depth piece and that is what he has been. The Yankees couldn’t expect to compete for long with him in the rotation. The real problem is that he’s not alone.
Will Warren, the rookie expected to make another start Saturday, has a 6.00 ERA. Carlos Rodón is wearing a 5.19 ERA, and Marcus Stroman, who was trade bait last offseason, has a 7.27 ERA through two outings. Even Max Fried, who has a 2.61 ERA, has only given the Yankees 10 ⅓ innings through two starts.
Sure, Schmidt will help when he returns next week, but the 29-year old is yet to prove he’s a front-end of the rotation arm. He’s nearing the end of his rehab stint after missing time with a back injury. But he’s not built up, and he’s not a savior. Luis Gil is still months away. Gerrit Cole won’t pitch this year. The Yankees aren’t just waiting for help-they’re falling further behind while they wait.
So, Brian Cashman needs to try to speed up the process of finding a trade. Sandy Alcantara is perfect, but with the Marlins looking for organization-changing prospects in return, that will happen close to the trade deadline. Maybe the Brewers, with their mounting injuries, realize this isn’t their year and will move Freddy Peralta. The Angels might do the smart thing this year and trade Tyler Anderson or the Yankees could always dream and hope the Padres will move Dylan Cease or Michael King.
The Yankees survived largely because their bats were hot and carried them, but this three-day stretch of quiet bats has exposed the rotation too. It’s shown Cashman he has to do something.
