Could Yankees look to Padres for pitching help after Luis Severino injury

Who could the Yankees want

Let’s start by looking at who would not be available from the Padres, and to me that list includes Chris Paddack, MacKenzie Gore, and Luis Patino.

I don’t think the Yankees are looking for prospects like Gore or Patino anyway, and are most likely looking for an established big league pitcher.

But Paddack, Gore, and Patino are the future top of the rotation for the Padres and aren’t going anywhere.

Garrett Richards is an interesting one to considered. He’s obviously an established big league arm, but he hasn’t thrown more than 80 innings in a season since 2015.

I doubt the Yankees would want to take on another injury risk in their rotation, but it could help give the Padres some salary relief and he could be a big boost atop the Yankees rotation if he stays healthy as a one-year rental.

Dinelson Lamet is another arm coming off an injury, but he’s much younger and under control for four more seasons under arbitration.

I think he could bring the best return from the Yankees.

Joey Lucchesi would instantly become the third or at least fourth best pitcher in the Yankees rotation. He was a 1.6 WAR player in 2020 and I think he could have a big 2020 season.

He has nearly 300 innings in the big leagues with a solid 4.14 ERA, so I think he would be a solid addition to the Yankees rotation.

Cal Quantrill might not move the needle enough for the Yankees, but he does have some big league experience and could help eat some innings at the back of the rotation until Paxton comes back, or to give some of their young guys more experience in the minors until they’re ready.