Yankees Showing Interest in Marcus Stroman and Madison Bumgarner

Very few units have been plagued by injury in 2019 the way the Yankees' pitching rotation has. With right-hander Domingo Germán being the latest addition to New York's injured list, the Yanks' pitching options have been stretched dangerously thin.

Three other starting pitchers still remain on the IL and are nowhere close to returning. With limited rotation options and the July 31 MLB trade deadline steadily approaching, the Yankees are looking to expand their arsenal on the mound, checking out two of the top trade options extensively.

Yankees Have Shown Interest In Stroman, Bumgarner https://t.co/fxvEF8avLN pic.twitter.com/oz4ymQc96x
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) June 9, 2019

Marcus Stroman is likely the Yankees' highest priority in terms of pitching additions. He's had a solid season so far, after missing a good chunk of the 2018 campaign with a shoulder injury, with 14 starts and a 3.31 ERA under his belt. With Stroman under contract with the Blue Jays through the 2020 season, the Yankees would be getting plenty of control of the 28-year-old right-hander's services.

Another option the Yankees have looked into, of course, is Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner. The former World Series MVP is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. Although it's more than likely that the 29-year-old lefty will be on the move, he has the ability to block trades to eight teams including the Yankees, a move the man himself installed as a bargaining chip.

#Yankees “have spoken with the Blue Jays about starting pitcher Marcus Stroman,” reports @KenDavidoff, “and they have scouted Giants veteran lefty Madison Bumgarner, whose contract gives him the right to block a trade to the Yankees.” I want Stroman badly. https://t.co/l3u3r6B0SZ
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) June 9, 2019

This trade blocking power that Bumgarner has doesn't necessarily mean he will reject a trade to New York, of course. It does, however, give him some leverage to negotiate with any of those eight teams, if they desire to trade for him.

Both the Blue Jays and Giants will have high trade demands for Stroman and Bumgarner. With the way Stroman has pitched this season, Toronto has plenty of reason to ask for a large amount of prospect capital, especially from an in-division opponent. San Francisco, on the other hand, only has one true shot at a rebuild, and won't really let Bumgarner's tough 2019 cloud their asking price.

Whether New York trades for one of these starters, or both, they are in desperate need of a solution to their injury issues.