Francisco Liriano

The New York Yankees are searching for a solution to solve their pitching rotation cataclysm, and Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins could be the arm for the job.

As the MLB season creeps toward the end of April, all 30 teams have now played approximately 20 games each, and while there were certainly some surprises at the start, the expected cream is starting to rise to the top, while the expected bottom feeders, with some exceptions, are trending toward the bottom of the pack.

Over the past nine years, the Minnesota Twins have dominated the American League Central. They have won six division titles in that span (seven if you count their tie for first in 2008), since Ron Gardenhire was named manager. Although they have not necessarily had the most talent, they play hard—and they scrap for every win possible.

The 2011 baseball season is upon us, and that can only mean one thing for eager fans: a fresh start.  With hopes of celebratory bliss, you announce confidently, “this is our year,” as you retrieve the enormous foam finger lodged behind your bed. The once prized possession is now dusted with crumb remnants and dead ants. 

The start of the 2011 MLB season is fast approaching, but instead of a loaded roster, the Yankees have some glaring weaknesses, especially in the pitching rotation.

Andy Pettitte has retired, which is a major blow to the pitching rotation. He was consistent in the regular season, and won more playoff games than any other pitcher in history.

Starting pitcher A.J. Burnett had a horrid 2010 season, and Javier Vasquez is now with the Florida Marlins.

Albert Pujols and Michael Young have been the main headlines heading into the 2011 Major League Baseball season.

Pujols, one of the greatest players in the game's history, is seeking a record setting contract extension from the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Young, one of the most loyal players in Texas Rangers history, doesn't want to be moved to designated hitter full-time and is seeking a trade. 

There is no doubting that, when healthy, Francisco Liriano is among the best starting pitchers in baseball. 

The 27 year-old left-hander signed with the San Francisco Giants as an international free agent in 2000. He later was dealt to the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2004 season as part of a package that included Joe Nathan and Boof Bonser for catcher A.J. Pierzynski. 

We all know that luck has a lot to do with the success or failure of some pitchers.  Let’s take a look at the five pitchers who qualified for the ERA title in 2010 who posted the worst BABIP and analyze their chances of a rebound in 2011:

James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays: .341 BABIP

Small market teams don't trade away a player that they control with two years to go before free agency.  Most teams would try to get the most out of him before trading such a player away. 

Which leaves me to the Twins floating around Francisco Liriano's name out in trade winds and more than likely trading him away this season.

It's been a big offseason for starting pitchers on the move.

After months of speculation, Cliff Lee signed a five-year, $120 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in the free-agent frenzy of the winter. The Milwaukee Brewers emptied their farm system for trade-market equivalent Zack Greinke and the Chicago Cubs then gave up an arguably better package of prospects for the good-not-great Matt Garza.