Yankees should consider trading for Mike Minor if he becomes available

The trade deadline is a little over two months away and as it gets closer and closer the Yankees figure to be in the mix to acquire another front line starter. Some of the obvious names who could be available include Trevor Bauer and Madison Bumgarner but don’t sleep on Rangers left-hander Mike Minor.

By the time the trade deadline rolls around the Yankees rotation should be back to full strength but that doesn’t mean they won’t look to add another starter before July 31st. If the front office feels it’s necessary to acquire another front of the rotation guy to help with their postseason push than Brian Cashman is going to do everything in his power to make it happen.

Mike Minor’s name has kind of flown under the radar as a potential trade target compared to guys like Bumgarner, Bauer and Max Scherzer but that’s about to change. So far this season he’s been outstanding and should garner plenty of interest in the coming weeks.

Minor’s stats: 5-3, 2.64 ERA, 67 K’s, 64.2 IP, 1.13 WHIP, .229 OPP BA

Right now the Texas Rangers are a team that’s not in full rebuild mode but they have some quality veterans who they could trade to help replenish their farm system. Entering play today their record sits at 23-23 which has them in second place in the AL West, 8.5 games behind the powerhouse Houston Astros.

Clearly, they’re not going to win their division this season and I don’t think anybody expects them to be in the wild card picture either. In all likelihood, they’re going to be sellers as the deadline approaches and even though Minor still has another year left on his three-year deal he’s a prime candidate to potentially get traded.

If the Rangers end up putting him on the trading block the Yankees should definitely consider pursuing him because he could be a real difference maker and they have the pieces to get a deal done. In any potential deal, the Rangers would probably first ask for either Estevan Florial or Deivi Garcia but I think the Yankees system is deep enough to complete a trade without including either one of them.

Now if the Yanks wanted to acquire a Scherzer or a Bauer one or even both of them would almost certainly have to be included in any deal, but maybe not for a guy like Minor who has less of a track record. Then again the Rangers don’t have to trade Minor given his contract situation so if they are going to do so they’re going to make sure they get a great return.

It’s also possible the Yankees end up sticking with the rotation they have now because by the time the trade deadline rolls around both James Paxton and Luis Severino should be back. Those two were projected to be the top two starters on the staff before the season started and in their absence, the Yankee rotation (outside of J.A. Happ) has been very good.

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Right now the starting staff is led by Masahiro Tanaka and Domingo German who has burst onto the scene with a breakout campaign up to this point. CC Sabathia has also been very solid but the staff ace has been German without a doubt. Considering how well he’s pitched thus far the Yankees may end up standing pat especially if his success carries over into the second half.

That being said, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Sevy’s return so I think whether or not they decide to trade for someone like Minor really depends on his health. If he doesn’t end up coming back or pitches poorly upon his return I think we’ll definitely see them try to trade for another starter.

However, if he comes back and returns to his All-Star form he’s just as good or better than anyone they could acquire.