Yankees Trade Rumors: Mike Minor Emerges As Possible Option For NYY, Phillies, Brewers Eyeing Pitcher

It’s probably time to add Mike Minor to the list of starting pitchers that the New York Yankees could potentially acquire. As the team looks to improve its rotation before the 2019 MLB trade deadline, Minor is reportedly available.

According to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi, the Texas Rangers are increasingly likely to move Minor by the July 31 deadline. The Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly among the team’s interested in Minor.

Minor’s availability had been a question mark since the Rangers are above .500 with a chance at making the playoffs. Texas is 4-7 in July, putting them four games out of the AL Wild-Card race.

A trade reportedly isn’t close with either Milwaukee or Philadelphia, giving New York a chance to make a competitive offer to Texas. The Yankees’ exact interest in Minor is unknown, though the left-hander has a few of the qualities that the team is looking for in a starter.

Minor has arguably been the AL’s best starter this season and could conceivably start one of the first few games in a playoff series for the Yankees. The 31-year-old leads AL pitchers with a 6.0 WAR and ranks second among starters with a 2.73 ERA. Minor has 121 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP in 122 innings.

Minor is signed through next season when he’s set to make fewer than $10 million in the final year of his contract. Trevor Bauer, another trade option, could earn $20 million in arbitration for the 2020 season before hitting free agency.

The Yankees are reportedly unwilling to part with top prospects for a rental like Madison Bumgarner. Free-agent-to-be Zack Wheeler might no longer be an option for the Yankees after landing on the injured list. Marcus Stroman is an available starter that has a year left on his contract.

Minor has only made one playoff start, having done so in 2013. He went 12-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 2018. Minor was a reliever in 2017 and didn’t pitch in the majors during the previous two seasons after suffering a torn labrum.

New York has the AL’s best record with arguably the league’s best lineup and bullpen. The two other AL division leaders and two of the top three wild-card contenders all have a better rotation ERA than the Yankees.

The Yankees have upgraded their rotation in July in each of the past two years, trading for Sonny Gray in 2017 and J.A. Happ last year.