Heyman: Yankees Could Still Pursue Tigers' Scherzer This Offseason

Earlier this offseason, it was reported by numerous sources that the Yankees didn't plan to pursue any of the top free agents available.

Now, though, it appears the team is making an exception to that rule. According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Yankees met with Max Scherzer's agent shortly after last week's GM meetings, and that New York is currently considering a revisit of their earlier plan.

From Heyman's article:

"If there's one name that seems to intrigue them it's very likely Scherzer, baseball's leader in wins (55) and strikeouts (723) among all pitchers over the past three seasons.

Scherzer looks like such a standout as a free agent -- a 30-year-old pitcher with a dynamic fastball, stellar change-up and slider, and an emerging curve -- that it's been shocking to see such abject silence to this point. In a way, though, it's not such a surprise, as the biggest free agents often take the longest to find suitable landing spots."

Heyman wrote that the Yankees still have no interest in ex-Red Sock Jon Lester, who played for the A's during the second half of 2014. Lester and Scherzer are both expected to ask for a lot of money this winter, and the Yankees likely don't want to have to give it to both of them.

Nonetheless, this finding shows for the first time that the Yankees are looking to acquire outside pieces. Up until today, their interests have essentially been limited to guys like Brandon McCarthy, Chase Headley and Stephen Drew, each of whom spent part of last season with them.