Yankees: These early trade rumors should worry fans ahead of deadline

1. Mets ‘rumored’ to be in on Kyle Gibson

About six weeks ago, we would’ve laughed at your if you said the Yankees needed starting pitching at the trade deadline. Gerrit Cole was unstoppable. Corey Kluber had just thrown a no-hitter. Jordan Montgomery and Domingo German were solid. Everyone was propping up Jameson Taillon. Luis Severino was about to make a return!

Then … MLB banned foreign substances for pitchers and Cole came crashing back down to earth. Kluber suffered a shoulder injury and might not be back until September. German had a 7.20 ERA in June. Taillon is still in the mid-5’s. Severino suffered a groin injury that delayed his rehab process a month. The only above-average arm has been Montgomery. How?

What else is new?! The Yankees need starting pitching. Luckily for them, some solid arms are expected to be dealt in the coming weeks. Unluckily for them, a lot of teams need those solid arms.

One of which is the New York Mets, somehow. According to MLB insider Jayson Stark, the most rumored trade candidate surrounding the crosstown rivals is Texas Rangers righty Kyle Gibson. The Mets have the fourth-best ERA (3.33) in baseball and the best starters’ ERA (2.90). And they’re looking to bolster their rotation when they have the worst offense in MLB?!

And think about all the other actual starter-needy teams who will be involved in here. The Mets are throwing their hat into the ring just to become a juggernaut in the starting pitching department? Sweet. If they’re reportedly involved this early, it’s also not a good sign for the Bombers.

Gibson leads the AL in ERA and ERA+. Probably would’ve been a good bet for the Yankees assuming the price wasn’t overly steep. That would’ve allowed them to kick German and Michael King to the curb as they wait for Kluber’s return. But since Sevy should be back not too long after the All-Star break, the Yankees won’t be paying a premium for a guy who’s having his best season ever in Year 9.

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