DiCaro: Yankees and Cubs Discussing Nathan Eovaldi Trade

According to Julie DiCaro, the update anchor for WSCR-AM/ 670 The Score, the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees have had preliminary discussions regarding starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.

Although she says “nothing is imminent,” it is a huge surprise that the Yankees would even discuss selling off assets this early in the season, sitting just one game below .500 and only 4.5 out of the Wild Card coming into Tuesday. With Eovaldi striking out a career high 8.5 batters per nine and holding opposing offenses to a 3.71 ERA in his first 10 starts of 2016, the team may be looking to capitalize on his all-time high value.

The Yankees are right on the edge of a full rebuild, and Eovaldi might be one of their most attractive assets if he were made available. He is still just 26 and won’t become a free agent until after the 2017 season. His 100 mph heater and the success he’s had with his splitter give him tantalizing front of the rotation potential, but if New York doesn’t think he’ll quite get there and they don’t want to invest in him long term, now might be the time to move him.

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The Cubs certainly aren’t lacking in trade chips. The first name everyone will jump to is infielder Javier Baez, who could give the Yankees a viable option to replace the struggling Chase Headley, as well as push Didi Gregorius for playing time. Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Hendricks are other Cubs who came up in trade rumors last winter. After graduating so much talent to the big leagues, their farm system is a little short on impact prospects (ranked 20th in MLB by Baseball America before the season), but there are definitely enough interesting pieces left to get a deal done.

This isn’t completely out of left field, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that GM Brian Cashman discussed an Eovaldi trade with an unknown club during the winter meetings. Cashman has been open about his willingness to listen to any any potential deal and find creative ways to make the club better. If this trade comes to fruition, it would certainly be a bold and unexpected move for the Yankees.