🔥 BIG MOVE AHEAD? Yankees Predicted to Lock in Versatile Pitcher on a $25 Million Deal — Could This Be the Key Ingredient to Fixing Their Rotation Woes?

Yankees Predicted to Sign Versatile Pitcher $25 Million Deal

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Yankees predicted to land versatile pitcher.

The New York Yankees are predicted to land a versatile pitcher who can compete for a starting job or be a bulk-inning reliever.

New York has some key injuries to the rotation in Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. So the Yankees could look to add a stopgap for the first month or two of the season. MLB insider Darragh McDonald of MLBTradeRumors predicts the Yankees will sign Nick Martinez to a two-year, $25 million deal.

“Martinez has spent the past four years as baseball’s ultimate swingman. He’s capable of decent results as a back-end starter or as a high-leverage reliever,” the article read. … “Teams clearly value his reliability and flexibility. … Still, his ability to pitch either as a starter or reliever or both makes him a fit on just about any club. That may make him popular enough to secure a nice two-year deal for himself.”

Martinez could serve as a starter while Cole and Rodon are injured before moving to the bullpen. If Luke Weaver leaves in free agency, Martinez could take over his role and also be used as an opener or spot start.

Martinez is 35 years old, and last season with the Cincinnati Reds, he went 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 40 games, including 26 starts.

Yankees Have Key Injuries in Rotation

New York has a clear need in the rotation with Cole and Rodon to miss the beginning of the 2026 MLB season.

Cole will return sooner than Rodon, who underwent surgery after the Yankees were eliminated in the playoffs by the Toronto Blue Jays.

“When you build in all the ramp-up and the throwing program and getting him ready to be a starting pitcher, that probably delays him potentially a couple of weeks to start the season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about Rodon’s injury.

With Cole and Rodon injured, the Yankees’ current rotation features Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and Luis Gil. So, New York will look to add at least a starter, if not two, this offseason. Which is why Martinez makes sense, as he can move to the bullpen once Rodon and Cole are back.

Aaron Boone is Confident New York Will Win World Series

The Yankees confirmed Boone will return for his ninth season as the manager.

Boone and the Yankees are coming off a disappointing exit in the ALDS. Despite that, Boone is confident the team is close and believes they will win the World Series.

“I’m confident in my ability to lead this team. I’m confident in our organization to build a team that gives us a chance to win,’’ said Boone. “Ultimately, it’s about us winning No. 28.’’

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, meanwhile, has full faith in Boone, despite some fans calling for him to be fired.

“I think he’s a good manager,” Cashman said. “I think he’s one of the better managers. In this environment, if he was out there right now, he’d get a job probably quickly. But I also know, because of our environment, he’s someone that can be second-guessed 10 million times over. I don’t care who you put in that (job), that would be the same whoever else would be there.

“I trust him, I think he’s a good man, I think he works his tail off,I think he’s got good people that help support him. And he’s got good players. With all that, it doesn’t guarantee the outcome we’re all fighting for.”

The Yankees last won the World Series in 2009.

Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton