Yankees Rumors: Three relievers they could trade for before the deadline

Yankees GM Brian Cashman is going to do everything in his power to acquire another front of the rotation starter before the trade deadline but if he fails will he try to add another reliever instead?

The Yankees biggest need before the trade deadline is starting pitching, there’s no doubt about it. If they don’t address that need it could be what prevents them from winning a championship just like it did a season ago.

However, if they can’t add another starter that doesn’t necessarily mean their World Series hopes are doomed. They still have one of the best bullpens and best lineups in all of baseball and their rotation has helped them post the best record in the American League up to this point.

Sure it could end up costing them but you could say the same thing about their offense or their bullpen. You can’t predict how things are going to play out in October so it’s unfair to say that they can’t win it all without making a certain type of move.

Yankee fans including myself would love to see them go out and add a guy like Trevor Bauer, but if the asking price is too high it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they opted to upgrade their bullpen as a backup plan. With questions surrounding the potential return of Dellin Betances, the Yanks could certainly use another arm at the back end if he can’t make his way back this season.

The same goes for Jordan Montgomery who is another possible pen option considering he probably won’t be built up enough to return as a starter. That might be the case for Luis Severino as well but there’s also a chance the Yankees bring him back a starter and limit him to a 75 pitch max.

If Sevy returns in that role the need for another starter wouldn’t be as glaring and it would make even more sense to bring in another reliever since he probably won’t pitch very deep into games. So who are the top relief options the Yanks could pursue before the July 31st deadline? Here are three names to keep an eye on.

RHP Alex Colome, Chicago White Sox

Colome has been one of the best closers in the AL for the past four years and in his first season with the White Sox, he’s gone 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA with 20 saves in 21 opportunities. He only has 28 K’s in 36.2 IP but he has the best WHIP in the league amongst relievers with an impressive 0.74.

The right-hander is under contract through the 2020 season but there’s still a good chance the White Sox will trade him before the deadline for the right price. Right now they’re not in the playoff picture with a record 42-49 and are still about a year away from contending in the AL Central. They might hold onto Colome to be their closer next season to help them fight for a playoff spot but if they want to add on to their already great farm system and deal him when his value is at it’s highest now would be the time.

RHP Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers

The former Yankee began his tenure with the Tigers as a starter but he really struggled and after one season he was moved to the pen. Fast forward four years and he’s now an All-Star and one of the best closers in baseball. This season has been a breakout year for Greene, he’s 22 for 24 in saves with a 1.06 ERA an 0.85 WHIP and 36 K’s in 34 IP.

Unfortunately, his Tigers are one of the worst teams in baseball with a record of 29-61 and should be in full sell mode as we approach the deadline. If made available Greene should garner plenty of interest from contending clubs looking for bullpen help. Like Colome, Greene is also under contract through the 2020 season, but unlike the White Sox, the Tigers aren’t close to contending anytime soon so they’d be crazy not to consider trading Greene for a haul of prospects.

LHP Will Smith, San Francisco Giants

Of all the relievers who could be on the trading block before the July 31st deadline, Will Smith will probably be the most sought after. The 30-year-old southpaw is having a second straight great season for the Giants with 24 saves in 26 chances, a 2.75 ERA and 56 K’s in 39.1 IP. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff but he’s a high strikeout guy because he has great control and an elite slider to put hitters away.

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The Yankees pen is already great but adding a left-hander like Smith who can serve in any role would give them the deepest and most versatile pen in the game.

A couple of weeks ago it looked like a sure thing that Smith would be traded but the Giants have somehow gotten themselves back into the Wild Card picture, despite having a 46-49 record. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 and now they sit only three games back of the second wild-card spot. However, if we’re being realistic this Giants team isn’t a club that’s going to make a deep run in October even if they do somehow sneak into the postseason.

They’ve held off on a rebuild for a couple of years now and with top trade chips like Smith and Madison Bumgarner to deal they shouldn’t risk doing so again. Both guys will be free agents this winter so it would be a bad move to play out the rest of the season and possibly miss out on the playoffs and then lose both guys to free agency without getting anything for them.