Yankees: 3 non-Trevor Story Rockies players NYY should chase at deadline

No, the New York Yankees will not be trading for Rockies shortstop Trevor Story at the trade deadline.

Imagine them just … doing that, though? Throwing caution to the wind? Big laughs from me. Nope.

Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit and Gio Urshela definitely have not earned permanent residence in the Yankees’ infield, but it’s tough to see an infield shakeup of that magnitude coming prior to this offseason’s shortstop frenzy.

Alright, so … the Rockies are still on the phone. Who else are we asking for?

The Yankees’ season may be over, but they could use reinforcements across the board. Anyone who wants to hit from the left side of the plate is welcome to join the 2022 roster. The bullpen, once thought to go five deep, actually teeters between one and two effective players depending on who’s resting on the COVID-IL. The rotation? It’s Gerrit Cole, a few No. 5 starters, and … you? Would you like to pitch?

Donating a haul for Story just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. If the Yanks were two or three games up on the Wild Card chase and wanted to solidify their position while simultaneously tracking down the Red Sox, fine. But that’s not the gambit here.

Luckily, the Rockies do have one of the most interesting last-place rosters in baseball (and are actually a good team at home!). There’s some other talent there that fits New York’s short- and long-term needs.

These 3 Rockies — no, not Trevor Story — could help the Yankees at the trade deadline.

3. Mychal Givens, RHP

Mychal Givens would be here for a good time, not a long time, but he’d be a worthwhile flyer to tack onto any Colorado trade all the same.

There’s no reason for the Yankees to inquire about the sidearm-slinging righty reliever all by his lonesome, but why not expand any potentially larger deal to include this remarkably consistent bullpen force, especially considering no one beyond Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga have been helpful all year long?

The mountain air was no great help to Givens when he arrived in Colorado at last year’s deadline (why did that happen?), as he posted a Yankees-esque 6.75 ERA in 10 games. This year, however, he’s grown more accustomed to the parameters of the job, as he’s back to his old self, spinning a 2.92 mark with 26 Ks in 24.2 innings.

Should he be the centerpiece of a deadline deal? Well, no. But in terms of an additional piece, we’d rather add Givens for the road (and potentially sign him to a cheap one-year deal after the season ends) than grab a top-40 prospect lottery ticket. This bullpen needs live arms.

1. Jon Gray, RHP

We cannot stress this enough: the Yankees have no starting pitchers. None. Nada. Nestor Cortes Jr. was their second-most trusted arm, and he just hit the COVID-IL at a brutal time for everyone. The season is sliding swiftly down the tubes.

Jon Gray has always been a name connected to this franchise, considering he’s been toiling for a bad team for quite a while and has usually possessed untapped potential. The stuff has always been No. 1 starter-esque. The results? Eh. ERAs in the high-3.00s alternated with years that finish in the mid-5.00s or higher.

Was that Gray’s fault? Or just life in Colorado?

This year, his final before hitting free agency (and on a $6 million contract that can be shoved under the luxury tax, most likely), has been one of the good ones. Gray’s mid-90s fastball and steep breaker have played up to the tune of a 6-6 record and 3.77 ERA, and he’s stunningly been better at home, too (3.22) than on the road (4.54).

He shouldn’t cost much, and he has mid-rotation upside in the AL East most likely, but again: is he better than Domingo German? Michael King? Jordan Montgomery? TBD? He’s more volatile than Monty, but he’s a much safer option than every other floating name in the Yankees’ orbit right now. Trade a burgeoning 40-man guy for him and call it a portion of a deadline.

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