Yankees Hot Stove: A look ahead at the 2014/2015 MLB free agent class for pitchers

The Yankees haven't spent much on pitching this off-season. Could they be waiting on a better stocked market next year?

In sharp contrast to their $260 million spending spree on position players this fall, the Yankees have been oddly quiet when it comes to pitching. Outside of re-upping Hiroki Kuroda for a year and bringing on reliever Matt Thornton for two, they've done nothing to address a staff that lost Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera to retirement. Reports say they'll be in on Masahiro Tanaka if and when he's posted, but Major League starters like Matt Garza, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez along with bullpen hurlers Grant Balfour and Joe Nathan have managed to eschew the team's radar.

A look at next year's free agent class for pitchers could explain the Yankees' reluctance to commit big dollars this time around. Though trades, injuries and extensions can rearrange things in a hurry, it looks for now like 2014-2015 will be a market ripe with front line pitching talent.

Starters

Among next year's free agent starters, we see a few team options are likely to be exercised. Iwakuma's staying in Seattle, Gallardo will be picked up, at least to be traded, and Cueto, if he can return to good health will be a Red in 2015. We can hope and dream and beg and plead, but It's too early to think seriously about the Yankees' chances at Kershaw. He's in a good situation in Los Angeles, and it's hard to believe that the Dodgers won't make him baseball's first $30 million per year man before he has the chance to talk to anyone else.

Even behind Kershaw, though, there's still a ton of quality to be had. The American League's reigning Cy Young winner, Scherzer is a Scott Boras client and seems likely to test the market rather than extend with Detroit. Boston's never been particularly good at holding onto their guys once they go free agent, which puts Lester squarely in play. Behind those three there's a very healthy second tier which includes the likes of Shields, Masterson and Bailey. If they don't land Tanaka this year, or even if they do, there will be plenty of good opportunities for the Yankees to part with their money next winter.

Righty Relievers

The most important thing to note about 2014-2015's right-handed reliever class is that David Robertson is the second youngest member of it and also the second best according to his 2013 fWAR. The Yankees should be working on re-signing their hopeful future closer right now. While most teams prefer not to spend huge on bullpen arms these days, there will be considerable competition for a pitcher of Robertson's caliber and consistency.

Behind Robertson, Belisle, Gregerson and Hochevar would all be solid setup choices if the Yankees can't lock down the seventh and eighth with internal options this year.

Lefty Relievers

Quality on next year's LOOGY market is virtually non-existent with Breslow's option a possibility to be exercised if he repeats his 2013 performance. Burnett pitched just 13 games this year and the rest of the group lingers in varying stages of mediocrity. The Yankees have already committed to pay Thornton $3.5 million in 2015 so they're unlikely to shop for another bullpen lefty, especially if Cesar Cabral, Vidal Nuno or Francisco Rondon is able to step up before then.

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