With Nationals star Max Scherzer essentially off the board for a potential trade with the New York Yankees, it leaves us seeking quality elsewhere.
There’s plenty of pitchers that will be available on the trading block in the next few weeks, it ultimately comes down to what the Yankees are willing to give up in a deal and if they can manage to secure a pitcher with a proven health record that won’t be a potential problem.
Here are three pitchers the New York Yankees could pursue:
1.) Mets – Zack Wheeler
The Mets are in a position where trading players for youth value might be a good idea. The current season hasn’t panned out as expected and adding building blocks for the future is ideal. That’s where Zack Wheeler comes into play – the question is, are the Mets willing to deal with their cross-town rival?
If it includes Clint Frazier, they shouldn’t even hesitate to pull the trigger on a potential deal. Sitting at 5-4 on the year and 4.87 ERA, Wheeler is a solid option for the Yankees, especially when you consider his 97 MPH fastball. He’s one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the league and represents a ton of value if the Bombers can secure him.
2.) Giants – Madison Bumgarner
Despite a 3-6 record, Bumgarner is one of the better pitching option available via trade for the Bombers. He featured a 3.87 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 93 innings pitched. He’s an elite talent that can help the Yankees immediately, however, it would likely cost them a pretty penny.
Factor in Frazier and a few minor league prospects and it’s possible the Yankees could convince the Giants to pull the trigger. Sitting in last place at 30-39 are the Giants, who are desperately in need of run support. Adding a quality hitter in Frazier that’s only improving would be exactly what they need to begin building for the future.
3.) Blue Jays – Marcus Stroman
With Stroman coming off his worst season in the MLB – 4.54 ERA over 102 1/3 innings pitched, he’s a solid target for GM Brian Cashman. Add in shoulder fatigue and a blister issue on his right middle finger, he would be a great value pickup for the Yankees if they’re not looking to spend major bucks.
Sitting at 4-8 on the season, Stroman is putting up much better numbers than his record indicates. He has an ERA of 3.18 but isn’t known to be a strikeout pitcher. He’s having a much better campaign this year, but the concerns mentioned before still bring down his value. He would cost much less than Bumgarner, but likely similar to Wheeler.