MLB Trade Rumors: Rangers Could Become Buyers, Affecting Yankees' Pursuit Of Starting Pitching

The New York Yankees are eyeing a trade to improve their rotation at some point before the July 31 deadline. With the 2019 season nearing the midway point, one potential acquisition is looking more and more like it won’t be an option.

Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor has found his name in trade rumors as one of the top starters once expected to be available this summer. The Rangers, however, have been one of the league’s surprise teams, and it’s likely to prevent them from becoming sellers.

With 18 wins in their last 26 games, Texas has climbed to second place in the AL West. A 35-30 overall record has given the Rangers a two-game cushion for the second wild-card spot.

Instead of looking to trade one of their best players, Texas is now expected to try and add to their pitching staff. That probably means Minor and his 2.52 ERA won’t be a candidate to join the Yankees’ rotation.

Minor is among a small group of names that have been mentioned for weeks as pitchers that could be traded this season. San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, Toronto’s Marcus Stroman and Detroit’s Matthew Boyd have found themselves on that list. Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer might become available if the Indians hit a bad stretch.

The Giants, Blue Jays and Tigers are still out of contention. The Rangers will need to keep Minor, who ranks fifth in the AL in ERA, ninth in strikeouts and first in WAR, if they hope to make a playoff push.

New York might be able to reach the postseason without adding a starter. Getting deep into October, however, could be difficult.

C.C. Sabathia and James Paxton have already spent time on the injured list. Domingo German is on the IL and faces an innings limit. Masahiro Tanaka has been inconsistent. J.A. Happ has his worst ERA in seven years.

New York could’ve added Dallas Keuchel without trading anyone, but the team was outbid by the Minnesota Twins for fewer than $2 million.

Minor probably wouldn’t have come cheap, considering his production and affordable salary of less than $10 million next season.

Bumgarner is set to hit free agency this winter. Stroman has one more year of arbitration after this season. Boyd is under team control through the 2022 season.