Yankees: 3 stars NYY can realistically acquire at the trade deadline

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There’s a lot of talk about the New York Yankees making moves at the deadline, so let’s break it down.

The Aug. 31 trade deadline is right around the corner and New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman figures to be extremely active. We’ve already heard via the latest rumors that he’s targeting a whole lot of pitching, both of the starting and relief variety.

However, the trade conversation has seen its twists and turns, deviating now to Mike Clevinger and even Francisco Lindor, but we already talked about how that’s probably not going to happen. The Indians are among the favorites to win the World Series, so trading Lindor makes no sense, and they apparently want a prohibitive haul for Clev.

Trevor Bauer probably isn’t happening, either. The Yankees won’t be upsetting their $324 million ace to make such a trade.

So you want the Bombers to make a big, earth-shattering move? Yeah? Well think outside the box a little bit more. For some reason we haven’t been talking a whole lot about these guys, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility Cashman can coax a few teams to make a blockbuster (or somewhat notable) deal.

Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) /

3. Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright is enjoying a resurgent season and is perfect for the Yankees.

Don’t let a Cardinals fan see this! They might try and track us down and send us hate mail. They’ll never trade Uncle Charlie … but what if they feel what’s already happened in 2020 is too much to overcome? Between their COVID-19 outbreak, Yadier Molina’s IG post, and Andrew Miller, Carlos Martinez, Miles Mikolas and Jordan Hicks all on the shelf, there’s a lot going on.

The Cards are doing OK, but the odds are stacked against them, especially with their division featuring the Cubs, Brewers and Reds (Cincy isn’t great, but they have a ton of talent and won’t be walked over).

What if Cashman calls and is willing to give up a top-15 prospect for Wainwright? The right-hander will be a free agent after this season, so maybe the Cardinals can convince themselves they can just re-sign him anyway.

Despite a disastrous five-year stretch before 2020, Waino is back, sporting a 2.88 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in four starts. The Yanks need another guy they can rely upon atop the rotation and the veteran has more postseason experience than probably anybody on the current Yankees roster.

Yup, a 2.81 ERA in 27 career playoff games. New York NEEDS that.

Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

2. Nolan Arenado

A Nolan Arenado-Yankees union has been talked about for a few years now.

Will it happen? Probably not. But it’s certainly realistic when you break it down from both sides.

The Colorado Rockies just endured a slide in which they lost 12 of 14, which has them right back in the thick of it with all of the other NL teams vying for a Wild Card spot at 16-15. That’s not entirely great, especially since they’ll be seeing the Padres, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Athletics and Giants the rest of the way. Not easy.

On top of that, we don’t know where the team’s relationship with Nolan Arenado stands. It was tense in the offseason when he openly called out the front office and we know he’s got that opt-out clause after the 2021 season. If he’s still in Colorado at that point, what we know thus far suggests he’ll be exercising that.

But if he’s in a winning environment and one of the faces of a new franchise? Perhaps he keeps the deal or requests a little re-work. Why wouldn’t he want to play the hot corner for the New York Yankees? If he does, New York has the ammo to trade for him and there’s little reason the Rockies wouldn’t listen to a package headlined by Gio Urshela and Clint Frazier.

Colorado might want to cash in if they don’t get it together by the end of the weekend. This 60-game sprint won’t be easy, and if they wave the white flag, we don’t think anyone would be surprised if Arenado is dealt.

And as we previously suggested … maybe throw in left-handed starter Kyle Freeland for good measure. Wink wink.

Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

1. Max Scherzer

Anyone care to tell us why the Yankees can’t trade for Max Scherzer?

The New York Yankees need another ace if the starting rotation is going to be this unreliable the rest of the way. Washington Nationals workhorse Max Scherzer finds himself on a struggling team that’s lost its magic from 2019. Nobody can blame them. It’s been a weird year and they lost key contributors.

Scherzer is signed through 2021, so it’s not like the Nats would be sacrificing their future in such a trade, especially with next year’s outlook unclear. General manager Mike Rizzo loves to strike on the trade market when the iron is hot and this could be the perfect opportunity for him to orchestrate a mini re-tool and build around Juan Soto.

Look, we’re not assistant general managers here, but this could easily cost the Yankees an MLB talent and a couple of top prospects. Cashman HAS to be willing to surrender that if he’s serious about this team making a title run this year or in 2021. Cole and Scherzer atop the Yankees’ rotation would be the perfect short-term beast the roster needs.

Scherzer’s enduring a rough go thus far with a 4.31 ERA in six starts. But give the guy another reason to go out there and scream profanities into his glove, and he just might turn into Mad Max in a flash. The Yankees give him a legitimate two-year window to win a World Series and we don’t see why him or the Nats wouldn’t be open to talking this out.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout against the Boston Red Sox during their home opener at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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