Well, Andy Pettitte's retirement has left the New York Yankees scrambling for starting pitching. The Bronx Bombers' rotation isn't as scary as it's been in year's past, in fact it's, well, awful for now. C.C. Sabathia will anchor the staff, and he's a legitimate staff ace. Phil Hughes is also a top of the rotation pitcher, but after that, things go downhill and fast. Big A.J. Burnett would be New York's No. 3 starting pitcher with spots 4 and 5 being up for grabs. Ivan Nova will likely get an extensive look during Spring Training as will Sergio Mitre. In fact, Nova and Mitre are listed as New York's 4 and 5 starters on the Yankees' official website.
↵Needless to say, that's not something that will satisfy the Yankees brass, particularly Hank Steinbrenner. Ken Rosenthal tweeted earlier that the Yankees are looking at acquiring a left handed starting pitcher, with Scott Kazmir being listed alongside Joe Saunders, Wade LeBlanc, Clayton Richard and, more aggressively, Gio Gonzalez.
↵This could, unfortunately, work out well for the Angels. They'd be fools not to listen for an offer from the Yankees on Kazmir, given New York's desperation. The Yanks also boast a pretty good if not great farm system currently, so Anaheim could net a good prospect or two and shed themselves of the twelve million dollars owed to Kazmir this year.
↵Of course, it's a decent gamble for New York as well - but it's just that, a gamble. Kazmir could turn it around and become a No. 2-3 type starting pitcher, but it's doubtful, particularly in the Bronx.
↵The Yankees are desperate, and it's pretty amusing. I'm looking forward to listening to WFAN this summer if the Yankees are toiling in June with a patchwork rotation. But hey, Yanks fans can take solace in the fact that they might acquire big, bad Kazmir.
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