This Yankees-Blue Jays Trade for Ken Giles Could Actually Work

The New York Yankees made a run at Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles at the MLB trade deadline in 2019, but they didn't end up pulling the trigger to acquire the star closer in part because their bullpen was incredibly deep already.

Still, the bullpen could always use some additional fortification, especially given that Dellin Betances won't be back in pinstripes in 2020. That may re-spark the Yankees' interest in Giles.

The Blue Jays, who are at the tail-end of a rebuild, could put some of the final touches on their young core by offloading Giles. Should the Yankees be willing to part ways with prospects Luis Gil and Anthony Garcia, they could manage to fashion their bullpen back into one of the league's best.

Gil, a 21-year-old right-hander, would give the Blue Jays another young arm to add to their pool of pitching projects. The No. 4 overall prospect in New York's system posted a 2.72 ERA between A-ball and High-A last year thanks to his dominant fastball that sits in the upper 90s.

While Garcia ranks as just the No. 24 overall prospect for the Yankees, he at least gives Toronto a bat with potential upside.

The 19-year-old barely cracked the Yankees' top-30 prospects in 2019, but he would be a welcome addition to a prospect pipeline in which hitters are few and far between for the Blue Jays, now that most of their young batters have moved on to the bigs.

As for the Yankees, they'd get the perfect man to create a four-headed monster in the bullpen. Giles, who has one year left on his contract, is coming off of a season in which he logged a 1.87 ERA and a career-high 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Alongside the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and Adam Ottavino, adding Giles to the mix would give the Yankees a supremely talented bullpen.

The Yankees had their eyes on Giles last year but failed to reach a deal for him. Things could be different in 2020 if they dangle this package in front of the Jays.