Yankees missed a chance not gambling on Matt Harvey?

At 29, former ace Matt Harvey was once considered by many as the best pitcher in baseball. Is it possible that the Yankees passed on him too quickly?

Lifelong Yankees fan, Matt Harvey, along with his $4.9 million salary was traded to the Cincinnati Reds by his former team the Mets during the second week of May for catcher Devin Mesoraco and $6 million in cash. Basically, both clubs swapped players without changing much of their respective payrolls.

Since then, Harvey has returned to the starting rotation starter and is looking like a steal. The Reds are now undefeated in games started by “The Dark Knight” at 3-0.

As reported by Joel Sherman in the New York Post:

"Harvey used all four of his pitches (though his curve only five times) and actually averaged 94.8 mph with his fastball (maxing at 97.2). He has a 2.57 ERA as a Red."

Rotoworld wrote further:

"Matt Harvey spun six innings of one-run ball against the Pirates on Tuesday in the Reds’ 7-2 win. Harvey had to escape a bases loaded, one-out jam in the first inning and gave up a solo home run to Colin Moran in the fourth. In the other four innings combined he surrendered just an infield single. In three career starts at Great American Ball Park, Harvey now holds a 1.77 ERA and 19/3 K/BB ratio over 20 1/3 innings. Harvey wasn’t great his last time out but now holds a 2.57 ERA over his first three starts as a Red. His next outing will come at Coors Field. May 22 – 11:48 PMMatt Harvey spun six innings of one-run ball against the Pirates on Tuesday in the Reds’ 7-2 win. Harvey had to escape a bases loaded, one-out jam in the first inning and gave up a solo home run to Colin Moran in the fourth. In the other four innings combined he surrendered just an infield single. In three career starts at Great American Ball Park, Harvey now holds a 1.77 ERA and 19/3 K/BB ratio over 20 1/3 innings. Harvey wasn’t great his last time out but now holds a 2.57 ERA over his first three starts as a Red. His next outing will come at Coors Field. May 22 – 11:48 PM"

It is common belief that the Yankees have looked to add another quality starter since the offseason, but even more so since their No. 5 starter, Jordan Montgomery went to the DL for what could end up being at least another six weeks.

Source close to Harvey  say that he expects to be traded by the Reds

A source that chose to remain anonymous says that Matt Harvey, who is avoiding the press at the moment, doesn’t expect to stay with the Red deep into the summer, and if he continues to perform well, should be shipped to a contender by the deadline. The source also said Harvey is feeling great and very confident about his game.

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Since his club has played the best baseball of anyone on the planet, GM Brian Cashman has not been pressed to make a move too soon and can wait until midseason to see who and what are his best options to fill that need.

However, the Bombers just lost a series to the Texas Rangers, despite a record-setting offensive outburst, due to ineffectiveness from starters C.C. Sabathia and fill-in Domingo German. Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray have also been inconsistent thus far, although Gray seems to be finding his form as of late. Will the Yankees take another look at him?

So will the Yankees take another look at Harvey?

Rumors have it that Matt Harvey might be used by the Reds as a trade piece to flip for some other prospects that will help in their rebuilding process and returning them to contention in the NL Central sometime in the near future.

Harvey was a cheap, low-risk deal the Yankees could have gambled on. The club’s head scouts nixed it but just might have gotten this one wrong — or maybe the clubhouse effect was the real worry.

Next: The return of Phil Hughes?

It will be fascinating to see where Harvey lands knowing what an avid Yankee fan he was growing up, but if he indeed does return to his best pitching form, I for one do not want our guys in pinstripes forced to face him in a one-game wildcard playoff.