YANKEES ALREADY HAVE STARTING PITCHING PROBLEMS FOR NEXT SEASON!

We may not be strategizing for the World Series, but the Yankees brain trust already has a problem to solve in the offseason. Since the Yankees have a real problem exercising their smarts sometimes (I'm being generous) they better get started now.

The 2026 starting rotation already has too much uncertainty. There are still unknowns with Gerrit Cole's timeline for a return. He's set to start throwing off a mound this week and if all goes well he should be back around May. There's even more uncertainty with Clarke Schmidt who had Tommy John surgery back in July. He could be back late in the year, but that is still a big if. That could be around August of next season. That's a lot of uncertainty to have, even before the latest news with Carlos Rodon. 

Rodon underwent an elbow scope Wednesday to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. He will be shut down for the next eight weeks and will also miss the first few weeks of the regular season. That's three starters starting the season on the Injured List at minimum. Now the Yankees need more depth.

The Yankees need a veteran starter with experience, so they are looking for the 2026 Carlos Carrasco but one with better results in the regular season. Not just the guy that pitches well in Spring Training to get the gig and then fall flat. HERE is the free agent list, it's a lengthy one and if I am being honest, the starting pitchers don't have me jumping out of my seat.

But, neither did Carrasco or Marcus Stroman this season, and they didn't single handedly bring us down. The Yankees need depth, they need someone serviceable to get us through the first few weeks while Cole and Rodon ramp up. Two names that I keep seeing in the rumor mill are Merrill Kelly and Chris Bassitt and while I am not loving either option, I must admit the idea of adding depth to the Yankees while making the Blue Jays weaker doesn't suck right now. They could be the new Carrasco but...there's another interesting option.

There is a real strategic option with a guy like Nick Martinez. The Reds have used him as both a starter and reliever this season with 20 of his 40 appearances as a starter. His 4.45 ERA doesn't look pretty but he had better success in a reliever role. He could help some stability while our starters are out but be a reliable arm out of the bullpen also, which the Yankees need. His 2.87 career ERA as a reliever is what should intrigue the Yankees the most.

The Yankees need to add some arms because right now the start of 2026 is already in jeopardy....in October. The Yankees brain trust needs to find an answer to this that the analytic geek in the front office isn't capable of fixing. They have a long time to start fixing it but they better get started now.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

DEAD BALL ERA MAKES A CAMEO & A GUT-WRENCHING WIN

This was a win the Yankees had to have, especially after so many opportunities. In the bottom of the 12^th, with the bases loaded and one out and failing to score, and then scoring the tying run but failing to score the winning the run in the 13^th, the win finally came in the bottom of the 14^th. Fittingly, Chase Headley, in his first game as a Yankee, hit a walk-off base hit to give the Yankees the win.

There is nothing as exciting as watching a 0-0 game go into extra innings. Literally, nothing. For the second consecutive game, the Yankees made starters with ERA’s above 5.00 look like 20-game winners. Nick Martinez and the Rangers bullpen held the Yankees scoreless through 14. If you count last night’s game, the Yankees went 13 consecutive innings without an extra base hit and 17 consecutive innings failing to put a man on third, let alone score a run, before the 13^th.

Here are some more statistics. When Derek Jeter hit a double in the ninth inning, it was the first time the Yankees had a man in scoring position in the entire game. The Yankees went 6 for their first 39, that translates into a .125 average. You get the point.

The first honorable mention goes to Chase Whitley, who pitched a gem. He threw six scoreless innings, giving up 7 hits, striking out 6, and no walks. The Yankees really needed a quality start, and they got it tonight. His pitches had movement and batters struggled to put wood on the ball. When the Rangers did get men into scoring position, he maintained his composure and got out of trouble.

The next honorable mention goes to David Robertson. Keeping his pitch count low in the ninth, he was able to give the team two innings of work with three strikeouts. He ended up throwing 32 pitches, so it is unlikely that Robertson will be available in tomorrow’s game. Nevertheless, he kept us alive and went the extra mile to do so.

When you are trying to catch the division leader, you take advantage of as many opportunities to win as you can. When you have a 3-game series at the Stadium against a team that has dropped 24 of their last 28 games, you win those games. Losing the first and needing to go to extras in the second, knowing that their ace is coming up in the third does not fill one with hope that this team is on steady ground. It was a win they needed. One can only hope that they can keep this going.

Final: Yankees 2 - Rangers 1

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

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