Yankees: Imagining five off the wall blockbuster trades

Starlin Castro and Adam Conley (Marlins)

This isn’t as drastic a trade. Nonetheless, it’s still intriguing. In this scene, Starlin Castro would find his way back to the Bombers, along with his left-handed teammate Adam Conley.

The two of them would come in exchange for Sonny Gray and Greg Bird. Bird, as we’ve gone over, has lost his way with the Yankees and could use a change of scenery — the same could be said about Gray. Either way, the Marlins could use a starter and a first baseman. It’s a perfect fit for two displaced players.

As for what the Yanks would receive, Castro saw a decline in his stats from 2017-to-2018 but is still productive enough to hold down shortstop while Didi remains on the DL. Plus rotating Castro into the lineup would be an extreme relief when other players need days off.

It’s a bit of low risk, low reward; but the Yankees would only be getting a temporary replacement for Didi as well as a potential left-handed reliever in Conley, who did have a WHIP near 1.000 last season, while striking out 25 percent of the batters he faced and only walking 18 batters in 50+ IP.

The former starter would also give the Yankees bullpen some depth, potentially pitching Conley for multiple innings. The only downside is Castro’s contract — $11 million this year and $16 million next year.

However, next season is a club option. So if the Yankees wish to part ways with Castro after the 2019 season, by all means, save the club $16 million.

Gray’s projected $9.1 million salary would cover a decent amount of what is owed to Castro, lessening the blow. Although not a league rattling trade, this would help the Yanks fill some holes without going straight to free agency.