Report: Yankees in contact with Verlander, Senga, Rodon
The New York Yankees are interested in doing more than re-signing Aaron Judge this offseason.
New York has been in contact with free-agent starters Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, and Carlos Rodon in an attempt to boost its rotation ahead of the 2023 season, reports the New York Post's Jon Heyman.
The Yankees don't have much confidence in signing Verlander - whom they've tried to acquire in the past - because they believe he'll return to the Houston Astros, according to Heyman.
But the team is reportedly keen to add Rodon, while Senga is one of the top pitchers available after a stellar career in Japan.
New York's rotation pitched well in 2022, ranking first in K/9, third in ERA, and fourth in WAR among American League teams. But it appears the Yankees want another weapon alongside Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Frankie Montas.
Verlander, 39, returned from Tommy John surgery this past season to win his third career AL Cy Young thanks to an 18-4 record and a 1.75 ERA in 175 innings. The future Hall of Famer has 244 career wins and is MLB's active strikeout leader.
Rodon was also sensational last season, authoring a 2.88 ERA and 12.0 K/9 in 178 innings to finish sixth in National League Cy Young voting during his first year with the San Francisco Giants. The 29-year-old southpaw opted out of the second year of his contract to become a free agent.
Senga, 29, posted a 104-51 record with a 2.42 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 275 starts during an 11-year career in Japan.