We keep hearing the Yankees will acquire a starting pitcher before New Year. I never believed they were comfortable going with both Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the rotation although, after Halladay was sent to Philadelphia, I started to have my doubts. Last week we reported the Yankees were talking with Atlanta about Derek Lowe. Today Joel Sherman reports about a reunion with Javier Vazquez. Earlier this week rumors were swirling about talks with the Cubs for Carlos Zambrano. There also have been various offseason rumors citing interest in Pineiro, Garland, and the recently signed Jason Marquis. The best option for the Yankees is to go after a young arbitration eligible player from a small revenue (see Maury I didn’t say small market- contact Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball if you don’t get the reference) team.

Who is available? I would be looking at names such as Josh Johnson, Justin Verlander but not, as Buster Olney speculated, some of the Pirates young starters like Duke and Maholm. I know Pittsburgh loves Yankees prospects, but are Duke and Maholm any better than what the Yankees have?

I have been a proponent of bringing in a veteran starter because I don’t think Joba Chamberlain is going to be effective in the rotation. I would have traded him for Halladay, but since that is no longer an option, perhaps they should give him a chance to prove his worth. Personally I think the Yankees want to create some Hughes/Joba competition to keep the kids on edge. Joba specifically has been given too much too soon. Knowing that the bullpen, or worse yet, the minors are a real option might finally get him to address his obvious issues regarding mechanics and weight. Point being, unless you are bringing in a Verlander or Johnson, none of the other young starters are less of a risk than Hughes/Chamberlain. Although Derek Lowe would fit nicely in the backend of the rotation it doesn’t seem to be the type of pitcher the Yankees would increase their payroll on.

I still don’t believe Hughes and Joba will both be in the rotation. It just seems very un-Yankee like. If they are, you’re taking a huge risk in the heavy hitting AL East. Look at the 07′ Yankees and how bad pitching sunk them early in the season. If not for an historic offensive run by A-Rod, and out of this world pitching by Joba, they probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs. This isn’t an easy spot for Cashman, but the difference is they are coming off a championship and might have equity to give development a try. Unless this is a “stud” pitcher I would pass at this point and see what becomes available after the season. If they don’t, then perhaps we will never see these kids start for the New York Yankees. For some, that would be a terrible “what if” scenario.

Tags: Brian Cashman, Carlos Zambrano, Derek Lowe, Joba Chamberlain, Joel Pineiro, Josh Johnson, Justin Verlander, New York Yankees, Paul Maholm, Phil Hughes, Yankees looking to acquire a starter by New Year, Zach Duke