Yankees Could Trade For Ace Without Giving Up Top Prospect After Missing On Patrick Corbin

The New York Yankees are still interested in adding a frontline starter to their rotation for the 2019 MLB season. With a few pitchers available that fit that description, it’s possible the team could trade for one without giving up a top prospect.

The Cleveland Indians are looking to trade either Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer. The team also has interest in getting rid of second baseman Jason Kipnis and Edwin Encarnacion because of the money they are owed next year. According to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal, there’s been some talk of Cleveland attaching one of those position players to either Kluber or Bauer in order to facilitate a trade.

If the Yankees are willing to take on one of the Indians’ bad contracts, they wouldn’t be forced to give up the same kind of assets that they would if they were only acquiring Kluber or Bauer, both of whom are Cy Young candidates with reasonable salaries. Cleveland might prefer to trade Kipnis or Encarnacion in separate deals so they don’t limit their return for a pitcher that many teams covet.

Kipnis would be a fit for the Yankees next season. With Didi Gregorius set to miss much of the year as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery, the Yankees could shift Gleyber Torres to shortstop and plug the Indians’ veteran right into the lineup.

Paying Kipnis $14.5 million in 2019 after he only hit .230/.315/.389 in 2018 isn’t ideal, but New York has the money to spend after missing out on Patrick Corbin in free agency.

Bauer is expected to make around $11.2 million in arbitration next year, according to Rosenthal. Let’s say the Yankees include a player like Sonny Gray in a trade to the Indians, as MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince has suggested. New York would end up paying Bauer and Kipnis around what they would have paid Corbin in 2019 had they signed him.

Kluber is also an option for New York. The two-time Cy Young winner will make $17 million next season, though there seems to be a sense that Bauer is the pitcher that’s more likely to get dealt.

If Bauer replicates his 2018 season in 2019 (2.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.3 K/9), he could make close to $20 million in arbitration for the 2020 season before hitting free agency. Kipnis has a team option for $16.5 million in 2020 with a $2.5 million buyout.

New York is running out of options when it comes to improving the rotation, which they’ve made clear is their No.1 goal this offseason. The team traded for James Paxton last month. New York reportedly had trade discussions with Cleveland about Kluber before acquiring Paxton from the Seattle Mariners.

Dallas Keuchel is the best available starter in free agency, though the Yankees have not been rumored to have much interest in the left-hander. New York is reportedly targeting J.A. Happ, who is 36 years old and has plenty of suitors.

Cleveland had been open to trading Carlos Carrasco, but the pitcher isn't likely going anywhere after signing a contract extension with the Indians.