The New York Yankees have clearly prioritized starting pitching during this offseason.

New York missed out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto this cycle and quickly pivoted. The Yankees wanted toad depth within the rotation with Marcus Stroman and might not be done just yet. Gerrit Cole is the reigning AL Cy Young winner at the top of the rotation and the team is hoping Carlos Rodon can return to form after a 2023 season full of injuries.

There are still options left on the open market. It is becoming unlikely that Corbin Burnes or Dylan Cease are available via trade. Plus, the Yankees already traded much depth in the bullpen to acquire Juan Soto. Because of this lack of depth, bullpen options remain available for the Yankees.

If Brian Cashman finds the right deal, these three players could be fits in New York.

3. Hyun Jin Ryu

Where will the Yankees look for starting pitching? With the addition of Stroman, the team could look to add a low-rotation arm.

Ryu earned a big payday from the Toronto Blue Jays after making a name for himself in Los Angeles, including a year where he led the league in ERA in 2019. Now, Ryu has dealt with injury issues and this has allowed him to make just 17 starts in two years. This makes him a question mark for a team like the Yankees with Rodon already in the rotation as an injury-prone arm.

On the other hand, Ryu will be a cheap option that could carry no risk with a one-year deal. This would allow the Yankees to take a flier while remaining flexible for next offseason.

2. Wandy Peralta 

Peralta has spent the last three years with the Yankees and the 32-year-old could return to shore up the bullpen.

Not only has Peralta been in New York in recent years, he has been effective. The left-hander has pitched to a sub-3.00 ERA in 165 career appearances for the Yankees. Last season, Peralta logged a 2.83 ERA in 56 innings. A veteran arm that has had proven success in New York seems like just the option to improve the bullpen for 2024.

1. Hector Neris

Neris should be a sought-after commodity after the season he put together in Houston. Both New York teams will be in on Neris moving forward because of what he can provide a bullpen. The Yankees could add Neris as the much-needed late inning arm to pair with Clay Holmes

In 2023, Neris put up a sparking 1.71 ERA in 68.1 innings. He struck out 77 and allowed just 41 hits. Neris has spent the last two years in Houston and has pitched in some big games, which should also intrigue the Yankees if the goal this year is to win a World Series.

At 34 years old, Neris is searching for a short-term deal worth between $7-11 million per year. For a contending team, this should be a no-brainer.