Report: Yankees trying to acquire a starter, scouted Ian Kennedy on Wednesday
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The New York Yankees are reportedly looking outside the organization to find a starter who can help bolster their injury-ravaged rotation, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
Yankees are trying to trade for a starting pitcher. They scouted Ian Kennedy in Chicago last night, source says.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 24, 2014
Both CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova will miss the remainder of the season - the former underwent surgery Thursday to repair a degenerative knee problem while the latter is recovering from Tommy John surgery - and Masahiro Tanaka is currently on the disabled list with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Yankees have consequently relied on a host of unproven starters in recent weeks, a contingent that includes Chase Whitley and Shane Greene.
Though newly-acquired right-hander Brandon McCarthy has been strong in two starts since arriving in New York, the Yankees' rotation owns the 12th-worst fielding independent pitching (3.95) in the majors this season and could use another starter.
As such, the Yankees had scouts in attendance for Ian Kennedy's outing against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, when the 29-year-old right-hander allowed three earned runs on three hits and five walks over six innings. The Padres have already shipped two of their veterans to contenders in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and Kennedy remains a viable trade candidate.