MATT GARZA IS NEXT FOR THE YANKEES

Despite all the news Jacoby Ellsbury, Kelly Johnson and whether or not Robinson Cano will sign with us, the gaping hole in the Yankees plan for 2014 is starting pitching. The last run at the World Series by the Yankees in 2009 was preceded by an off-season highlighted by two major starting pitcher signings – CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. This year, they have to be looking at Matt Garza.

Matt Garza just turned 30 a few days ago, so he is in his prime and one can expect that he will deliver for several years to come. In six full seasons, he has never had a year in which his ERA was over 4.00. It is important to note that this ERA reflects schedules heavily weighted with games against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cardinals – all teams with historically powerful hitting. His experience on the Tampa Bay Rays between 2008 and 2010 shows he can handle the powerful American League East, which is critical to the Yankees success. He has a dominance on the mound that the Yankees desperately need. Over the last few years, he has averaged between eight and nine strikeouts per nine innings pitched, while allowing fewer than three walks per nine innings. He allows home runs at slightly above the league average – a little over 1 per 9 innings, but still respectable for any competitive starter.

His postseason record is equally impressive. In five postseason starts, he holds a 2-1 record with a 3.48 ERA. Of those five starts, four of them were quality starts and put his team in a position to win. He struck out 29 batters in 31 postseason innings, again showing dominance. In the 2008 American League Championship Series, much to our delight, he completely held down the Boston Red Sox. In two starts against them, he held them to one run per game. He struck out five in 6 innings and struck out nine in 7 innings, respectively. This is a guy that you want to take the ball twice in a 7-game series.

Is Matt Garza a perfect pitcher? No, he certainly has his risks. He is a fly ball pitcher who can give up a home run, and that could be an issue at Yankee Stadium. Nevertheless, you cannot ignore what he is capable of, and what he has already done. It is one thing if the Yankees cannot acquire him because his price tag is outrageous, or if he is looking for a contract long enough that it is not worth the gamble. It is another thing entirely if they just ignore him. This is one pitcher that is available who you cannot just let get away.


 
--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.