Yankees should avoid signing Cubs' 3.77 ERA All-Star for 2 reasons

Yankees should avoid signing Cubs’ 3.77 ERA All-Star for 2 reasons originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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A lack of offense and defensive mistakes were major reasons for the New York Yankees‘ early exit in the postseason. 

New York managed just 12 hits in the three-game ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, and they committed four errors in Game 2. 

The strongest part of the Yankees’ roster is their starting rotation, which features soon-to-be AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler. 

General manager Brian Cashman probably won’t be looking to sign free agent starting pitchers this offseason, which likely eliminates the odds of the Yankees signing an All-Star lefty from the Chicago Cubs. 

Shota Imanaga had a 3.77 ERA in 32 starts in his third season in the Majors, but he continues to struggle with the long ball. 

“The problem is that among the 80 pitchers with at least 350 innings pitched since the beginning of 2024, no one has a worse ratio of home runs allowed per nine innings pitched than Imanaga’s mark of 1.70,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. 

With the short porch in right field, Yankee Stadium may not be a suitable match for Imanaga. 

Plus, the Yankees already have Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Elmer Rodriguez as starting pitching options. 

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“Signing with either San Francisco or St. Louis could help alleviate the issue, as Oracle Park and Busch Stadium have consistently been two of MLB’s least homer-happy venues over the past three years,” Miller added. “But what happens when you need him to keep the ball in the park at Dodger Stadium or Yankee Stadium in October?” 

To be most effective, Imanaga should sign with a team that has a pitcher-friendly ballpark. 

For more ways than one, the Yankees don’t appear to be a good match. 

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