Yankees-Cubs Gary Sanchez-Anthony Rizzo blockbuster is too insane

The New York Yankees have reemerged in recent weeks as a threat in the American League playoff picture (Who’s shocked? C’mon, really?), and the Chicago Cubs — despite, uh, sweeping the Dodgers — are still in payroll-saving mode.

So why not reload and swap troublesome contracts to the Yanks? Eh?

Well…this “rumor” posited by NJ.com was joyous to read, but we can’t foresee the Yankees actually having the stones to execute it.

Especially not if Luke Voit returns in the next week or so looking healthy and powerful.

The trade? Gary Sanchez and top prospect Luis Gil to Chicago, while Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo head back to the Bombers.

Unfortunately, Sanchez getting dealt before the deadline is the only realistic part of this proposal.

How could the Yankees and Cubs link up for a Gary Sanchez trade?

Most importantly, the Yankees will not be taking on this type of salary this summer, even if it’ll theoretically help the club. Sorry. Not passing $210 million, especially not with a pending Jacoby Ellsbury grievance. Contreras is making approximately Sanchez’s salary ($6.65 million in 2021 vs. $6.35 million), and Rizzo is due $8.3 million in the final year of his contract. Offsetting the money saved by dealing Sanchez by taking on additional cash will not be the Yanks’ M.O.

Furthermore, this version of the trade proposal includes Voit taking on regular DH appearances while Giancarlo Stanton plays left field every day. Love it in an absolute vacuum, but…nope.

If you’re more interested in realistic trade targets who fit a need, what about a certain outfielder who can cover center, plays for a losing team in Texas, is under-the-radar excellent defensively and rakes?

Versatility and power are the names of Joey Gallo’s game, and he’ll be readily available with plenty of teams lined up for his services.

Adding a proven winner like Rizzo and a star catcher in Contreras who plays like an upgraded Sanchez would feel like a monster midseason win for the Yankees, one so fantastic that the other team involved in the trade would never agree to it.

For financial reasons, the Yankees wouldn’t either. Back to the drawing board.

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