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After signing Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million deal last week, the New York Yankees do not seem to be done trying to improve their pitching rotation. With Ervin Santana still on the market, the Yankees could be one of many teams gunning for him as he is the last major prize left on the market.
Santana used his one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals last season to get things back on track. His last season with the Los Angeles Angels did not go so well as his ERA blew up to 5.16 and he allowed 8.3 H/9. With the Royals last year, Santana readjusted himself and went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA, the lowest mark of his career. He struck out 161 batters and posted a 6.9 K/9. He helped the Royals compete in the American League Central and when he landed in free agency, Santana expected a lot.
Once teams started to pass his asking price by, it never seemed that Santana would be signed by anyone. Ricky Nolasco, Phil Hughes, Bartolo Colon and Tim Hudson were all some of the pitchers who have signed before Santana. Now, it seems as though the Yankees could be the team to beat again to grab another pitcher.
New York will have to fight off the usual suspects in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs. If New York is still willing to throw money at players, Santana will be pitching in the Bronx come April.
