Yankees trade for pitcher should only be for an ace

As long as the Yankees keep winning there is no visible pressure on GM Brian Cashman to make a move, but the longer he waits, the higher the price will be for an elite starter.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has spoken. The Steinbrenner’s want to see their team acquire a quality starter and they have made it clear that there is money available. In an interview with a group of reporters, Hal had this to say:

"“Clearly starting pitching was always a concern,” Steinbrenner said, speaking to a small group of reporters at a quarterly owners’ meeting. “It’s definitely one of the areas we’re going to be looking at.“Purposely left a decent amount of money for just this,” he added. “If we decide to go get a pitcher and if a pitcher’s available, I think we definitely have the flexibility that would allow me to do just that.”"

The keywords in Hal Steinbrenner’s statement were “allow me to do just that.” What he also made clear is that he is not keen to trade either Gleyber Torres or Miguel Andujar.

"I love the young guys,” he said. “Our fans love the young guys, and I think it’s obvious to all of us. They’ve made a heck of an impact, and to see Gleyber (Torres) and (Miguel) Andujar and others, you know, right off the heels of (Aaron) Judge and (Gary) Sanchez and (Luis) Severino, I mean it’s pretty amazing.”More from Yankees NewsAndrew Benintendi-White Sox deal proves Yankees were right to prioritize Carlos RodónTwins already bailing on Gary Sánchez emphasizes Yankees’ trade failureNew Yankees No. 2 Carlos Rodón hates Astros, dominates them3 cost-effective free agents who can fill out Yankees roster after Aaron Judge dealYankees sign Carlos Rodón after Scott Boras staredown to fill out special 2023 rotation"

It is also very apparent that Yankees manager Aaron Boone does not want to break up the current 25-man roster that has bonded into the best club in baseball. The team has struggled with decisions when changing the clubhouse culture by sending down such players as Ronald Torreyes and more recently, Tyler Austin.

So what will they do? Steinbrenner talked about money, and that means a rental. Right now, it looks like the only quality candidates are veteran southpaw’s Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ, or Tyson Ross of the Padres. Not much to choose from.

None of these guys are currently elite pitchers, although Hamels is a slight cut above the pack, and none of them, including Hamels, would indeed be in the best interest of the Bronx Bombers. Cole Hamels never wanted to play for the Yankees so why reward him and bring him to New York now?

The Yankees need a true ace to couple with Luis Severino and compete for a World Series Title

Usually, I would say a trade between the Yankees and the Mets would be tough to do, likely impossible. However, both teams find themselves in a unique situation of being perfectly matched to strike a deal.

The Yankees need another ace in the rotation now, and the Mets want to rebuild on the fly as the Yankees did, remain contenders, and restock a depleted farm system. A trade seems to be the only option for both clubs, and doing so with each other is the best option for both clubs.

There is a price for everything. A blockbuster with the Mets for Jacob deGrom, having the Yankees package an offer from the likes of Clint Frazier, Brandon Drury, Billy Mckinney, Tyler Wade, Estevan Florial, Justin Sheffield, Chance Adams, Josh Rogers, Domingo Acevedo, Giovanny Gallegos, Albert Abreu, Jonathan Loaisiga or even Domingo German should get the job done.

Frazier, German, Drury and a couple of lower-level prospects would probably make it too good for the Mets to pass on. Getting a quality starter like deGrom would end the Yanks’ need for German in the rotation, and the Mets’ Sandy Alderson might like the 25-year-old right handers future in the NL East.

The Yankees need to win now, but the Mets might be ready to wait a year for German to fully reach his potential. Drury is well known to the Mets and only getting better while Frazier is the Yankees hottest prospect, and all three have future star potential. They’ve faced the pressure of playing in the Bronx, so the spotlights of Citifield should be a welcome sight.

Brian Cashman would love to have Jacob deGrom. The Mets ace is one of the top two premier pitchers in all of baseball. Only Houston Astros No. 1, Justin Verlander has slightly better numbers as deGrom has a 1.55 ERA in 87 innings thus far this season while collecting 113 strikeouts.

The 29-year-old right-hander comes with two more full seasons of team control. The Yankees need another ace to couple with Severino to compete with Boston, Houston, Cleveland and Seattle in a best of seven in the playoffs this year, and also to secure the Yanks’ pitching dominance for the foreseeable future.

A Yankee rotation led by Severino and deGrom followed by Tanaka, Gray and Sabathia would rival any in baseball this season. I would say to Mr. Cashman to cast aside egos, pay the price, and get deGrom.

Next: Luis Severino continues his Cy Young-worthy season

Maybe Hal and Hank might sign off on such a trade if Cashman sells it right. I am betting the Yankees GM will go for the knockout and bring a true ace to the Bronx, if only to ensure that the team he built, cruises to an AL East title and on to compete in this year’s World Series.