MLB Rumors: NY Yankees Reportedly Interested In Pitcher Ervin Santana After Spending $471M In Offseason

As the 2014 Major League Baseball season approaches, multiple teams across the wide landscape of the game continue to look for ways to improve their respective clubs prior to Opening Day. Though big names in Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Carlos Beltran, Masahiro Tanaka, Grant Balfour and others have already inked deals with new clubs, other free agent commodities including Johan Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, Nelson Cruz, Stephen Drew and Ervin Santana remain nice options. While clubs like the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays have done a nice job of using the open market to better themselves, the New York Yankees have certainly grabbed hold of the free agent period, proving once again that they’re not afraid to spend money when it comes to adding depth and talent.

With the acquisitions of Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Brian Roberts and most recently Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees have dropped over $470 million on new talent. Set on reestablishing themselves as a force in the American League East, General Manager Brian Cashman made it a point to build up the organization ahead of Opening Day 2014 and after filling multiple areas of need, it appears Cashman has lived up to his goals. Though $471 million is a significant amount of money, reports indicate that New York may not be done ‘shopping’ this offseason.

According to MLB Daily Dish, the Yankees -- who are still in need of a fifth starter -- are at least monitoring free agent pitcher Ervin Santana. Following a down 2012 campaign with the Los Angeles Angels in which he posted a 9-13 record and 5.16 ERA over 30 starts, the 31-year-old Dominican Republic native bounced back last season with the Kansas City Royals. His 3.24 ERA was the lowest of his career and although his overall record for the Royals was just 9-10, Santana displayed the consistent ability to keep his team in games and now he’s expected to be rewarded with a significant contract.

New York’s rotation is currently set up to have CC Sabathia as the staff ace followed by Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova and Masahiro Tanaka. In-house names including Michael Pineda, Vidal Nuno, Adam Warren, David Phelps and Manny Banuelos are the leading candidates to compete for the fifth and final spot in the starting five, but should New York officials elect to bring in outside help, Ervin Santana appears to be their highest-ranked free agent, ahead of Ubaldo Jimenez.