Um, The Yankees Already Have Five Starters

Written by Greg Fertel | 09 June 2010

How the Yankees depth chart currently stacks up, starting pitching-wise:

1. C. Sabathia

2. A. Burnett

3. A. Pettitte

4. J. Vazquez

5. P. Hughes

That didn't stop George A. King III, of The New York Post, from saying that the Yankees will be interested in Cliff Lee when the Mariners look to the trade market. My favorite line in the article:

... but if the Mariners are going to shop Lee the Yankees will be interested because he will be a free agent after the season.

What? To me, that says that the Yankees won't be interested. They've demonstrated that they aren't going to pay up the nose in prospects and in dollars, when they can just do one. If the Yankees want Lee, they will pursue him in the offseason. I don't see any reason to give up prospects for him now.

Also, maybe Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik isn't so great after all. The article says that they are very interested in Eduardo Nunez and have also been scouting Low-A Charleston. There isn't really anyone of value in Charleston and Nunez isn't too good. Sure, they'd want Austin Romine or Jesus Montero too, but that isn't going to happen.

These rumors don't show any actual interest from the Yankees, just that other teams are interested in dealing players to the Yanks. I'm sure that the Yankees will make a deal at some point, but they will wait until their needs are clear. Right now, they're uncertain of Nick Johnson's health, but they're not going to go out and trade for another full-time designated hitter just yet. For now, just ignore these rumors.