Yankees not trading Dellin Betances, but should they?

Following the acquisition of David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox, the Yankees bullpen strength rivals their 2015-16 iteration.

Even still, the Yankees are in serious need of a reliable starting pitcher.

So it wasn’t long until Ken Rosenthal took to his Facebook page to speculate what a Dellin Betances trade would bring the Bombers back in return.

"Maybe it’s all talk, but the Yankees are adamant that they do not want to trade their top prospects, the ones who are closest to the majors or already on their club. Robertson could replace Betances as the setup man for closer Aroldis Chapman. And with Kahnle, the Yankees’ bullpen still would be deeper than before.Think about it: How else would the Yankees get a starter?"

True story, Ken.

Then on Thursday morning, general manager Brian Cashman told Sirius XM his team will not be trading from a position of strength.

"I have no interest in moving Dellin Betances. He’s a four-time All-Star."

Ravenous fans will say, then why bother broaching the topic? That’s because a similar situation unfolded last season when rumors started to swirl that Andrew Miller was a name popping up in trade talks — and even then Cashman was quick to dismiss them. As we now know, Miller was dealt on July 31 to the Indians for an epic haul. So, that’s why.

So why not entertain the thought of trading Betances?

When Betances is in a groove he’s virtually unhittable. Sure he likes to make things interesting every so often, you know, by walking batters. And yes, he was down right awful prior to the All-Star break, compiling a 14.29 ERA in the eight appearances leading up to Miami.

But he’s still a major part of the Yanks’ bullpen, especially considering how unreliable the starting staff is.

Acquiring Robertson and Kahnle shortens most games by two innings. Depending on things like pitch count, temperature and the size of a lead, starters only need to go five innings. Heck, on some days, four innings might be enough with Chad Green and Adam Warren in the mix.

Yet Rosenthal is correct in his assumption that without including a Betances-like talent in a potential deal, there’s no way the Yanks will get a top-tier starter like Sonny Gray or Gerrit Cole. Sure they might be able to pry a Jeff Samardzija or Lance Lynn for a package centered around prospect Jorge Mateo, but those guys aren’t performing much better than what the club currently has.

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On the other end of the spectrum, there are a few reasons why dealing Betances NOW makes logical sense. For one, the bullpen names I just mentioned wouldn’t be relied upon to pitch as often as we currently expect them to — should a consummate No.1 or No. 2 shooter be brought into the equation.

Having unreliable arms to start games is actually what put the Yanks in the pickle they were in prior to the White Sox trade. Too much was asked of the ‘pen and it was only a matter of time until the dam sprung a leak — starting with Tyler Clippard.

Two, the 29-year-old Betances is arbitration eligible for the next two seasons. After the Randy Levine-lead debacle in February, who knows what the next set of negotiations will look like.

If Betances can keep it together from here on out, it’s likely his asking price will far exceed the $5 million he previously wanted. Remember, the Yankees initially signed Andrew Miller to $9 million per season, albeit that was as a closer.

Though he no longer fills that role for the Indians, it’s entirely possible Betances and his reps ask for that exact sum. Would Cashman and company entertain that idea? Doubtful.

And finally, there are a ton of teams that need late-inning arms. They include the Rockies, Dodgers, Astros, Royals, Cardinals and Brewers. I mean, which contender maybe besides the Nationals who just acquired Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle doesn’t?

As easy as it appears on paper to say, trade Betances to Oakland for Gray, or Betances to the Rangers for Yu Darvish, you’d likely need to work in a third team to appease everyone’s growing fascination for all things prospect-related.

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How many clubs have a starting pitcher worth Betances is a whole other story — something perhaps Cashman has yet to vet. There’s still time, though.