Yankees Source Reportedly Reveals List of Team's Pitching Targets for July Trade
By Parker White
The New York Yankees missed out on veteran starter Dallas Keuchel this past week, who signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, who held a slightly sweeter offer. That may end up working out in their favor, of course, but there's no denying the team's need for a starter only increased with the recent injury to Domingo German.
On top of German's absence, the Yankees already have to worry about James Paxton and CC Sabathia's longevity, as well as the inconsistencies from Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ (and German's innings limit, and Luis Severino...)
With all that said, you can bet GM Brian Cashman will be on the lookout for a top-of-the-rotation starter. But who? Per one Yankees source, we have a ranked list of preferences!
I spoke with someone close to the situation, and he named Madison Bumgarner, Matthew Boyd, Trevor Bauer and Marcus Stroman as SP the Yankees have either had internal discussions about or will be interested in come July. That specific order is how the source ranked each target
— Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) June 11, 2019
According to someone close to the Yankees, they are interested in or are having internal discussions about Madison Bumgarner, Matthew Boyd, Trevor Bauer and Marcus Stroman...in that order, it would see.
Of the four, the big name is Bumgarner, who is known for his postseason dominance. He's endured some freak injuries the last couple seasons, but this year, he's been able to stay healthy and is on track for another 200-inning campaign.
#Yankees hold early talks regarding Madison Bumgarner (via @macalendrillo) #PinstripePride https://t.co/GF8zMZBkOG
— Yanks Go Yard (@YanksGoYardFS) June 11, 2019
Tigers southpaw Matthew Boyd has been the best of the bunch in 2019, as he owns a 3.08 ERA with 105 strikeouts over his first 14 starts. However, if the Yankees are looking for upside, you can't do any better than Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer, who was in the Cy Young conversation last year. Boyd's the most controllable, locked in on his current deal until 2023.
The Yankees certainly have a familiarity with Marcus Stroman, who is a division foe with the Toronto Blue Jays, but his recent history isn't any more consistent than Paxton or Tanaka. Would they really want to give up a nice package to a division opponent for Stroman? That's the rub; he'd cost a ton of capital, so he's lower priority.
No matter who they go after, it's clear that the Yankees need to add to the rotation. They didn't want to spend the money on Keuchel, so they have to be willing to part with prospects to upgrade their pitching. That's just the reality we inhabit now.