Yankees Rumors: Marlins may want Miguel Andujar in blockbuster deal

According to Ken Rosenthal, rival executives believe the Yankees would indeed trade Miguel Andujar in a deal for Mets right-hander, Noah Syndergaard.

It’s not every day that a team would readily make available the runner-up to the Rookie of the Year Award, but that’s the sense both Ken Rosenthal and Robert Murray are getting. According to reports, rival executives now believe the Yankees would make Miguel Andujar available in a trade for pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

Andy Martino of SNY.com then chimed in to say that the Yanks’ interest isn’t limited solely to Thor — perhaps opening the door to reigning NL Cy Young winner, Jacob deGrom.

While plenty needs to come out in the wash, in this potential three-team blockbuster trade, the Mets would send Thor across town to the Yankees, who would send Andujar to the Marlins for J.T. Realmuto, with Realmuto being directed back to Queens.

At 23, Andujar is the “established young headliner” that could be the linchpin to this massive agreement. While we’ve heard plenty of chatter about Realmuto, and more recently, Syndergaard possibly being dealt, following Andujar’s fantastic rookie year, no one could foresee his name as a legitimate acquirable target.

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However, with the free agent starting pitching pool drying up — and the Yankees reluctance to part with top prospect Estevan Florial for Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer, Andujar could be on the move.

There’s no question that Andujar’s bat is essential to the Yanks’ future, but with Manny Machado, still available via free agency and the Yanks’ need for another frontline arm, the power-hitting third baseman with questionable defensive ability may be expendable.

Naturally, Machado would need to accept playing third base, at least upon Didi Gregorius’ return from Tommy John surgery, sometime in the latter part of the summer.

One would think dealing Andujar, a player that exceeded all offensive expectations in 2018 would make signing Machado a necessity — even if it meant offering him 10 years, $300 million — which we were told yesterday the Yanks didn’t intend to do. Obviously, that could change with a gaping hole at third with Andujar’s departure.

Should this Earth-shattering near completion, then the Yankees must believe that Syndergaard or perhaps deGrom, are far superior to what’s available on the open market — and rightfully so. Losing Andujar would be a tough pill to swallow, but for a healthy Syndergaard, while also inking Machado is a win-win situation.