Yankees Rumors: Giants like prospect Albert Abreu but for who?

According to reports, the Giants recently scouted the lower-levels of the Yankees farm system and came away uber-impressed by right-handed pitcher Albert Abreu.

The Yankees are high on their No. 3 overall prospect Albert Abreu, and rightfully so. Originally acquired from the Astros as part of the Brian McCann trade in November of 2016, the 22-year-old right-hander has a fastball that regularly reaches 98-mph to go along with a power breaking ball and a fading changeup that often leaves the opposition looking foolish.

According to Brenden Kuty of NJ.com, a representative from the Giants organization had this to say about MLB.com’s 60th best prospect in all of baseball.

“If you squint hard,” the person said, there are shades of Yankees ace and two-time All-Star Luis Severino in Abreu, but control issues are a concern.

Out of action since June 30th due to injury, Abreu has only been able to make 10 starts thus far in 2018. In 48.1 innings pitched at High-A Tampa, Abreu is 3-3 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.324 WHIP and 9.7 K/9.

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Aside from numerous stints on the DL which date back to last season when he missed time due to elbow and lat injuries, Abreu still needs to work out his control issues, as a 4.3 BB/9, six hit batters and nine home runs allowed in ’18 indicate.

Even though the Yankees desperately need starting pitching, there’s no way they’ll rush a talent like Abreu, which could be why the Giants and their 27th-worst farm system are intrigued by the possible addition of Abreu.

However, looking at the Giants’ 40-man roster, there aren’t many names that likely jump out to general manager Brian Cashman.

Naturally, the one player that would make Abreu expendable, plus a number of other top-flight Yankee prospects is Madison Bumgarner. Following an extended stay on the DL due to a broken pitching hand sustained during Spring Training, Mad Bum is still finding his way back to elite status through eight starts.

Across 49.2 innings, the 28-year-old four-time All-Star is 3-3 with a 2.90 ERA, 1.188 WHIP and 41:17 K:BB ratio.

Just a hair under two weeks until the non-waiver trade deadline, the Giants find themselves in 4th place in NL West. At 50-48 and four games back of the Dodgers, whom just acquired Manny Machado, the Giants are far from being out of contention (also four games out of a Wild Card spot).

Depending on how Bruce Bochy’s group gets out of the gate to begin the second-half of the season, the Giants could still change their stance on keeping Mad Bum in the City by the Bay.

Although the Giants reportedly let the Yankees know they’d happily trade them Jeff Samardzija, I highly doubt Cashman would entertain the idea of taking on a 1-5 starter, who has a 6.25 ERA, 1.634 WHIP and dreadful 30:26 K:BB ratio in 44.2 innings.

Not to mention, The Shark is owed some $49.5 million through the 2020 season.

Next: Yankees need a plan with Machado off the board

Other Giants that could intrigue Cashman, but likely not for a prospect of Abreu’s stature include free-agent-to-be Derek Holland (5-8, 4.09 ERA, 1.313 WHIP and 103:38 K:BB ratio in 101.1 innings pitched) and left-handed relievers Will Smith (1.23 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and .160 BAA in 29.1 innings) and Tony Watson (2.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and .224 BAA in 43.1 innings).