It was hardly a secret that the Yankees needed starting pitching this winter -- their depth chart had a question mark at every rotation spot, and many members of the media, myself included, have assumed they'll pursue the top free-agent starter, Patrick Corbin. They struck early on the trade market by acquiring one of the best starters on that particular hot stove burner, James Paxton, but gave up their top pitching prospect to do so along with another prospect with some real major league value.
The Yankees get two years of Paxton, and they seem to be acquiring him as he's reaching his peak -- he's been worth 8.