As the Yankees ponder whether to fill the early-season holes left by Luis Severino and CC Sabathia with in-house options or to add a veteran starter, they're linked with one free agent in particular.
Jon Heyman reported Friday that the Yankees "maintain some interest" in lefty Gio Gonzalez, though there are no signs that a deal is imminent.
Severino will miss the first month of the season with rotator cuff inflammation while the start of Sabathia's season will be slightly delayed because of a five-game suspension he has to serve and his recovery from a heart procedure and knee surgery.
Internal options for the Yankees include Luis Cessa, Jonathan Loaisiga and Domingo German, though GM Brian Cashman hasn't ruled out signing a free agent.
Gonzalez, 33, went 10-11 last year with a 4.21 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 148 strikeouts in 171 innings last season. After a late-season trade from Washington to Milwaukee, Gonzalez went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 25 innings across five starts with the Brewers.
A National League scout recently told SNY's John Harper why Gonzalez showed improvement with Milwaukee.
"They tinkered with his mechanics and he was throwing his breaking stuff around the plate with better bite and more consistency," the scout said. "When he's doing that he can still be very effective."