Yankees Reportedly Showing Interest in Trade for A's Reliever Blake Treinen

In 2018, Oakland's Blake Treinen was the game's best reliever.

A year later, he may be shipping out of town.

And that's why it's hard to build a reliable 'pen!

In an effort to boost their already-boffo bullpen and rid the A's of a potentially expensive contract for a volatile bullpen arm, the Yankees are reportedly leading the charge in the trade market for 2018's super-reliever.

Entering his final (and most expensive) year of arbitration ahead of free agency, Treinen could potentially need a new home coming off a backslide season along with other costly A's, including perennial breakout candidate Jurickson Profar and catcher Josh Phegley.

In 2018, Treinen shined like no other reliever, leading Oakland's charge to the Wild Card Game with his bowling ball sinker, and posting an 0.78 ERA with 100 K's in 80.1 innings. His 2019, however, showed a hefty dose of reliever regression, featuring a 4.91 mark and just about exactly one strikeout per inning (59 in 58.2).

Unlike the sinker-balling closers who came before him like Jim Johnson of the O's, Treinen features more velocity on the heavy ball, and will bring plenty of potential to his next locale.

Will it be the Yankees? And will it be one of many moves that signals Dellin Betances' departure, or just a supplementary decision? Keep an eye on this one.