Time for Yankees to Shop Until They Drop

The time has come for the Yankees to start seriously shopping, if they haven't already, for a starting pitcher. Brian Cashman confirmed to reporters this week that Joba Chamberlain will have his innings monitored for the remainder of the season. Though Cashman would not specify, it's thought that Chamberlain will not exceed 160 innings pitched this season. That leaves him with about 65 for the rest of the year, or approximately as little as 10 starts if he averages 6 innings per start.

With Chien-Ming Wang's shoulder getting no better and Phil Hughes ensconced as the key set up man in the pen, the Yankees are now in desperate need for a starter. Yes, I said desperate, but that doesn't mean make a stupid move to get said starter. Face facts, Sergio Mitre is not the answer. He might have been had Wang been healthy and productive, but neither is the case.

Andy Pettitte is coming off a good start, but as we've seen this season, he's been more often bad than good. Mostly mediocre probably sums it up best. The Yankees cannot just rely on CCSabathia and A.J. Burnett to carry them the rest of the way. The Yankees need to add a starter who can give them some innings and keep them in ball games. Better yet if he can win some games.

The Yankees are reportedly taking a look at Cleveland's Cliff Lee, but Indians want Joba or Hughes, and Cashman isn't going for that. The Reds have Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, but neither is consistently stellar. I've "pitched" for Harang here, but there's no question his contract is a hang up (or is that a harang up?). The Yankees shouldn't pay out his full $12.5 million for next year.

Roy Halladay? That's just a pipe dream. The Yankees can't mortgage as much of the future as the Blue Jays would like them to. Plus teams like the Phillies have prospects who can make a more immediate impact.

But the name I really am pushing for is a name Ihave not heard mentioned in trade rumors, and I don't even know if he's available. I am talking about Kansas City's Gil Meche. The right-hander, who is currently on the DL with back spasms, has two years remaining on a 5-yrs, $55 million deal. Meche has struggled this season, but threw more than 200 innings in his first two years in KC and had a sub-4.00 ERA, while posting a 23-24 mark.

The Royals have lost 9 straight and are in last place in the AL Central. Things won't be turning around any time soon. Obviously, the Royals want to remain competitive in the coming years, andMeche's contract is not that bad by today's standards. But if the Yankees are willing to pick up the rest of this season and the next two years,Meche may come at a reasonable asking price from KC. Perhaps a package that includes one of the Yankees minor league catchers ( Austin Romine?), Ramiro Pena or Eduardo Nunez, and a minor league pitcher (or two).

Update: Just to clarify, Meche is on the DL and won't be activated until after the trade deadline. Which means the Yankees have to make a trade for a player to be named (Meche) or have the Comish approve it.

Update of the Update: Okay, turns out Meche is actually eligible to come off the DL on Monday, the 27th.