If Jordan Zimmermann getting $110 million from the Tigers across five years pushes free-agent pitching dollars upward, the Yankees’ interest in Jeff Samardzija and Wei-Yin Chen could dissipate quickly.
While Hal Steinbrenner’s public comments indicate the Yankees aren’t going to spend heavily in the free-agent market, they are monitoring what goes down with Samardzija and Chen.
“Chen is the best of the second-tier pitchers and better than Johnny Cueto,’’ a pitching evaluator with an AL club said of the lefty, who was 11-8 with a 3.34 ERA in 31 games for the Orioles last season and is 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA in 117 career games.
That’s sweet music to the ears of agent Scott Boras, because Cueto — acquired by the Royals at the trade deadline from the Reds — reportedly turned down $120 million from the Diamondbacks and is believed to be looking for a six-year deal in the area of $150 million.
Cueto, to whom the Yankees haven’t been linked, went 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 regular-season starts for the Royals and 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in four postseason starts. He beat the Mets with a nine-inning gem in Game 2 of the World Series.
According to industry experts, Chen, 30, could land a five- or six-year deal for a significant raise over the $4.75 million he earned in 2015.
While some believe Samardzija will have a bounce-back season following a disastrous 2015 when he went 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA for the woeful White Sox and led the AL in hits allowed (228), earned runs (118) and homers (29), what the upper-crust free agent hurlers haul down will determine what kind of offers the right-hander will get.
Since becoming a starter in 2012 with the Cubs, the former Notre Dame receiver, who will be 31 in January, is 35-52, has logged 822 innings and posted a 4.03 ERA, which are big pluses.
After sitting out the Zimmermann sweepstakes, the Yankees aren’t likely to get involved with David Price or Zack Greinke. Price could get $200 million and Greinke close to $170 million.
Samardzija could command a five-year deal in the $70 million range.
As for dealing Brett Gardner or Andrew Miller for a starter, nothing the Yankees have heard from other teams has them close to trading their starting left fielder or closer.
Nor has there been much trade interest in Ivan Nova, who can become a free agent following the 2016 season and likely will make $4.5 million this coming season.