According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the New York Yankees “have checked in” with the Arizona Diamondbacks about outfielder Starling Marte.
The D-Backs acquired Marte, 31, from the Pittsburgh Pirates in January for top-30 prospects Brennan Malone and Liover Peguero. Across 118 at-bats this season, the outfielder sports a .322 batting average, an .853 OPS and a 131 OPS+ while totaling two home runs and 14 RBIs. For his career, Marte is hitting .288 with a .795 OPS and a 116 OPS+ while totaling 110 home runs and 434 RBIs.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal says the D-Backs are open to trading both Marte and reliever Archie Bradley.
DBacks open to trading not only closer Archie Bradley, but also center fielder Starling Marte, sources tell The Athletic. Both players under club control for only one more season after this one. Team could move Ketel Marte back to CF, or possibly play Daulton Varsho in that spot.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 30, 2020
The Yankees have several players on the injured list including outfielders Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Marte could theoretically be an everyday player for the foreseeable future in the Bronx. He has a team option for the 2021 Major League Baseball season ($12.5 million). Sherman notes that the Yankees don’t want to “add much, if any salary.”
The Yankees, 17-13, are in second place in the American League East, four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. Their offense is fourth in MLB in slugging (.453), 17th in batting average (.246), 19th in runs (147) and 24th in hits (229). Infielders Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela and catcher Kyle Higashioka are nursing injuries.
MLB insider Robert Murray reported on Sunday that the Yankees are interested in Cleveland Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger; Murray adds that Cleveland is believed to want “four quality prospects.” Clevinger is under contract through 2022. Left-hander James Paxton is on the injured list with a Grade 1 flexor strain.
Around the diamond, opposing teams can request one or a combination of Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, and Mike Tauchman in a trade. On the hill, opposing teams can request one or a combination of Michael King, Jordan Montgomery, Clarke Schmidt and Deivi Garcia in a trade.
The MLB trade deadline is Monday, August 31 at 4 p.m.