Cashman: '99 percent likely' Yankees enter spring with current rotation

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman took significant steps to improve both the bullpen and the offense this winter, though the rotation is likely to remain as is when the team heads for spring training next month.

"We stay engaged with the marketplace, but I think more likely than not - 99 percent likely - we are going to be going to camp with what we have," Cashman told ESPN's Jim Bowden, according to Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News.

"And that's (Mashiro) Tanaka, CC (Sabathia), and (Michael) Pineda locked into three spots and then five guys competing for the final two spots between - in no order - (Adam) Warren, (Luis) Cessa, (Chad) Green, (Bryan) Mitchell, and (Luis) Severino."

The Yankees' inconsistent rotation ranked as one of the worst in the American League in 2016, posting a 4.44 ERA over 916 innings. Tanaka was the staff ace, posting a 3.07 ERA over a career-high 199 2/3 innings, and the Yankees will need to rely on him heavily once again with concerns over the durability and consistency of both Sabathia and Pineda.

Cashman has reportedly been engaged in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox involving Jose Quintana, though there's been a reluctance to part with the farm system. The Yankees will need to add some pitchers under contract over the next few seasons as Sabathia and Pineda are both free agents in 2018, while Tanaka can also opt out of his contract.