This winter features a surprisingly strong class of free agent pitchers. Aces Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, and Carlos Rodón dominate the headlines, but behind them lurk a solid cadre of mid-rotation starters. Chris Bassitt, Jameson Taillon, and Taijuan Walker all figure to boost whichever rotation they join, but there is one under-the-radar name who could prove to be the steal of this year’s free agency.
If I asked you who was the AL East’s best starting pitcher in the final four months of the season, you might name Shane McClanahan, Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Gerrit Cole, or Nestor Cortes.