This Yankees-Cubs trade package could bring Yu Darvish to New York

If Yu Darvish is on the trade block, the Yankees should inquire at the very least.

The New York Yankees probably aren’t going to make a major move until they know their fate with DJ LeMahieu, but as we suggested, it could be a shrewd decision to prepare for the worst-case financial scenario with the star slugger in order to see what additions can be made elsewhere.

General manager Brian Cashman still needs to bolster the starting rotation and bullpen and also add a contact bat/address the middle infield depth. And if bringing back LeMahieu means putting the Yankees right up against the luxury tax threshold, such moves will be difficult to make given these hypothetical restraints.

But if Hal Steinbrenner is truly open to any option that makes the Yankees a significantly better team regardless of the price, then he has to consider the possibility of Cashman striking a trade with the Chicago Cubs to land Yu Darvish, right?

Here’s the deal: Darvish is owed $59 million through the 2023 season. The end of 2019 and the shortened 2020 campaign proved that he’s back to his ace status with all of his elbow issues far in the rearview. The Yankees need a No. 2 behind Gerrit Cole to provide stability for their very unstable rotation, and though Darvish comes with a considerable financial commitment, he might be the next best thing out there aside from Reds’ star Luis Castillo.

This kind of 1-2 punch atop the rotation for the next three years certainly outweighs having to pay a luxury tax. If the Yankees want a World Series, they have to perhaps make the uncomfortable move that involves spending money or trading valuable assets for their missing piece(s).

The bright side here is that the Cubs don’t exactly have a ton of leverage in any deal. It’s clear they’re trying to slash payroll, and the fact that Darvish is owed nearly $20 million AAV for the next three years will affect the value of a return package because that’s a lot of salary to inherit under these current circumstances.

So what if the Yankees offered the Cubs Adam Ottavino (and his $9 million salary), Miguel Andújar and one of Deivi Garcia or Clarke Schmidt? If the Cubs want even younger talent, perhaps Ottavino alongside No. 4 prospect Oswald Peraza (SS) and No. 9 prospect Yoendrys Gomez (P) could work.

If Chicago is going to blow things up and listen to offers on their biggest players, Darvish is arguably the best place to start because he has years of control left and just finished second in the Cy Young race, which was the first time he received any votes since 2013. Darvish can arguably bring back the most significant return in a trade (even over Javier Baez, Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo) while also freeing the Cubs of nearly $60 million.

It’s at least worth a discussion for the Yankees.

This Yankees-Reds trade package could bring Luis Castillo to New York

If Cincinnati Reds ace Luis Castillo is on the market, the New York Yankees should be inquiring, and maybe this trade package could bring him to the Bronx.