The yankees are in need of a reliable starting pitcher since 25-year-old Jordan Montgomery is on the disabled list for the next six-to-eight weeks. As recently reported by Rotoworld, Montgomery won't even pick up a baseball for close to three weeks. "Domingo German will get first cracks at sticking in the rotation, but don't be surprised if the Yankees begin the trade season early to look at potential replacements."
In any case, with the inconsistent performances of right-handed starting pitchers Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray, and remembering how frail 37-year-old C.C.
Sabathia's knees and hip are, it is a foregone conclusion that the Bombers must acquire a quality starter.
James Paxton was 12-5 with 2.98 ERA in 2017 and was named the 'Mariners Pitcher of the Year' by the Seattle Chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America. The southpaw fanned 156 batters in 136 innings pitched but missed five starts due to injury.
So far this season, Paxton is 2-1 with 71 strikeouts, a 1.11 WHIP and 3.52 ERA, which is slightly higher than his career ERA of 3.31. Paxton, who threw a no-hitter on May 8, has a career WAR of 9.4 and WHIP of 1.20 in five-plus seasons in Seattle.
The loss of Cano could begin Seattle's rebuild
Paxton is earning $4.9 million this season and is arbitration eligible in 2019.
He will not become a free agent until 2021, which gives his club two cost-controlled years of production.
The suspension of Cano might send Seattle into sell mode sooner rather than later. Making the playoffs will now be even more difficult, having to overcome a very crowded group of teams that include the Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Angels, and Indians.
The Yankees have plenty to offer and are loaded in both young players with MLB experience and prospects that should carry enough attention to get the Mariners to part with Paxton.
Players that could interest the Mariners via trade
Brandon Drury, Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, Justin Sheffield and possibly even Miguel Andujar are all names that should attract sufficient interest from Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto.
Persistent rumors have the Yankees dipping their toes in the free agent waters this coming offseason for superstars like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. However, the Yankees have plenty of hitting, and if they truly intend to compete for a World Series title this season, will need to acquire a frontline starter capable of taking pressure off their young ace Luis Severino.
Having a player suspended for drug abuse is an unfortunate event for any MLB team as the Yanks well know, but it might be an opportunity for both the Mariners and Yankees to improve their respective clubs now and well into the future.
