We are just a few days away from pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training.
The 2011 baseball season is getting closer and closer each day, but one thing hasn't changed yet.
The Yankees need for starting pitching.
Last week, the need got even worse when Andy Pettitte decided to retire from baseball, ending his 16-year career with the Yankees to spend more time at home with his family.
As much as the Yankees would have loved to have Pettitte back, nobody can blame him for retiring. He's certainly earned the right to be with his family.
But unfortunately for the Yankees, his absence leaves a huge void in the starting rotation.
Right now, CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett are the only three guaranteed starters for the Yankees in 2011.
Ivan Nova is a possibility for the rotation, as is Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, who both signed minor league contracts with the Yankees.
Signing Colon and Garcia have shown just how thin the pitching market has been this winter after Cliff Lee went back to the Phillies and Pettitte retired.
Hell, it got to a point where the Yankees had discussions with Carl Pavano, that is until the Twins offered him a second year and the Bronx avoided a major scare of Pavano returning to a city and team he robbed $40 million from.
There may be a new name out on the trading market the Yankees could seriously look into now.
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins may be willing to deal Francisco Liriano because right now, they have six starters vying for five spots.
According to Christensen, the Twins aren't looking to sign Liriano long-term, even though they just avoided arbitration by giving Liriano a one-year deal for around $4.3 million in 2011.
Liriano is a free agent after the 2012 season and is looking to get a three-year deal—a deal Minnesota is not willing to give—which could end up with his departure.
Liriano is only 27 and when healthy, is a very good left-handed pitcher.
In 2010, he went 14-10 with a 3.62 ERA in 191.2 innings, amassing 201 strikeouts in 31 starts.
Back in 2006, he looked like a dominating force at the top of the rotation along side Johan Santana,that was until elbow problems ended his season and forced him to miss the entire 2007 season.
Right now, it looks as if Liriano could be fully recovered from his past arm and elbow troubles and back to winning form.
With the Yankees in dire need of pitching, this could be an option Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman could look into.
The Yankees haven't taken a chance on many of the guys who were put on the market: Jeff Francis, Brandon Webb, Armando Gallarraga, Justin Duchscherer.
They've been tied to Kevin Millwood, but unless his price drops, he may sign elsewhere.
I'm not too crazy about Millwood anyway—he seems more fitted to pitch in the National League.
Right now, Liriano seems like the most attractive option out on the market.
Now, here comes the big question, what do the Twins want for Liriano?
If the Yankees can make a deal and not involve Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances, that would be a plus for the Yankees future—not trading away top prospects on the verge of their major league careers beginning.
Chances are, the Twins might not ask for a huge return offer for Liriano.
As history serves us, the return package of Phil Humber and Carlos Gomez from the Mets for Santana was quite in fact, a steal for the Mets from the Twins.
Actually, lets call that what it really was; that was highway robbery, especially considering what kinds of offers the Twins had from the Yankees and Red Sox that winter.
But, maybe the Twins don't make that mistake again and demand top-level prospects in return for their ace.
Up until now, Cashman has been very reluctant to make a major move.
He even got over-ruled by Hal and Hank Steinbrenner in the Rafael Soriano negotiations, a move that left the Yankees owners no other choice to make because of Cashman's stubbornness over relinquishing a first-round draft pick.
But, with the season getting closer, Cashman has to be feeling some need to add starting pitching.
Sure, he has what many consider a lockdown bullpen with Soriano, Pedro Feliciano and Mariano Rivera.
But, if your starters can't get to that bullpen, what's it worth then? Absolutely nothing.
I for one. am all for the Yankees making a deal—a reasonable deal—to get Liriano this year.
Lets face it—the Yankees need him, now more than ever.
They could have used Lee. They really could have used Pettitte. But now, at this point, they really need Liriano. Unless the 2002-2005 version of Colon is going to pitch for the Yankees, they have no other options at this point.
If I were Cashman, I would be calling Twins General Manager Bill Smith everyday and seeing what it would take to get Liriano.
Cashman said starting pitching was a priority from the get-go of the winter offseason.
Right before spring training, it still is.
Trading for Liriano would be an instant upgrade to a rotation that could use him in the worst way.
For Yankees Universe, lets hope Cashman feels the same way and has enough of an urge to bring the lefty to the Bronx.
So now after stating my case, I will leave this discussion up to you, the Bleacher Report community.
Should the Yankees make a move for Liriano? If so, what would be a fair offer?
Hopefully before April comes, the Yankees have made a move for a starter. At this point, hopefully, it will be for someone like Liriano.
Stay tuned Yankees Universe.
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