Yankees Trade Rumors: Jacob deGrom On New York's Radar, Cardinals Could Become Trade Partner

There’s been speculation for months that the New York Yankees would add a starting pitcher mid-season, and general manager Brian Cashman has been open about wanting to upgrade the roster. With less than two weeks remaining until the 2018 MLB trade deadline, the team doesn’t seem to have a ton of great options available.

A couple of All-Stars were traded during the break when shortstop Manny Machado was sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers and closer Brad Hand was acquired by the Cleveland Indians. No starting pitchers were dealt, and it could be hard for the Yankees to find one that will make much of an impact.

J.A. Happ and Cole Hamels have been the two most prominent names featured in trade rumors. The veterans are logical trade candidates because they can become free agents this winter and currently play for teams that aren’t in the playoff race, but neither one is a game-changer.

Happ started off the year strong, but his ERA is up to 4.29. Hamels is 5-8 with a 4.36 ERA, and he had a 4.20 ERA a season ago. Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and C.C. Sabathia would all get playoff starts ahead of either trade option, and it’s uncertain how much of an upgrade Happ or Hamels would be over either Sonny Gray or Domingo German.

The Yankees certainly wouldn’t trade top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield for either pitcher. They might be better off seeing what the 22-year-old can do in the majors. Sheffield has a 2.53 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 57 Triple-A innings.

New York would only consider trading Sheffield for a bonafide front-of-the-rotation starter. Does such a deal exist for the Yankees?

There’s been plenty of talk among fans and media in New York about the possibility of the Yankees sending a package of prospects to the Mets for either Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard. Much of the conversation has revolved around deGrom because he’s older and a top NL Cy Young candidate.

Fancred’s Jon Heyman has noted that the “Mets’ guys” are the pitchers the Yankees would most like to acquire, though the Bronx Bombers don’t believe their cross-town rivals are willing to trade with them. Acquiring deGrom could put the Yankees over the hump the way Justin Verlander did for the Houston Astros in 2017. DeGrom leads all MLB starters with a 1.68 ERA.

Carlos Martinez might not be a likely option for the Yankees, but there’s a better chance he ends up in the Bronx than deGrom. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman has said the St. Louis Cardinals are expected to “seriously consider selling” if they fall out of the playoff race.

After firing manager Mike Matheny, the Cardinals (48-47) are 8.5 games out of first place and trail four teams for the second NL Wild-Card spot. Martinez is just 26 years old with three years left on his contract, so he’d cost the Yankees several highly touted prospects in a potential trade.

Martinez entered the All-Star break with a 3.09 ERA before giving up five runs to the Chicago Cubs Thursday. He has a 3.26 ERA since 2015.

The Yankees trail the Boston Red Sox by 4.5 games in the AL East. New York has MLB’s second-best record and a five-game lead on the Seattle Mariners, who currently own the second AL Wild-Card spot.