1. The Realistic Swap: Charlie Morton and Johan Camargo for Deivi Garcia, Vizcaino and Miguel Andújar
The only way to avoid facing Charlie Morton in a big game is to trade for Charlie Morton. Everyone knows this.
This is a bit of a fantasy trade, too, but all the pieces match if Atlanta’s given two high-upside arms to replace their departing current ace (who they can also re-sign at year’s end, if they’d like).
Thought of as a potential mid-rotation calming presence as recently as last fall, Deivi Garcia has completely lost the corners of the plate in 2021, struggling with both control and command at Triple-A in a season that’s removed some of his shine. Vizcaino is still a top-10 prospect (on the 40-man) who the Yankees believe in, despite the fact that several pitchers have emerged behind him who’ll be forcing the team’s hand in the years to come, like Ken Waldichuk and Luis Gil. Camargo, once a key switch-hitting bench piece infielder/outfielder for the Braves, has barely appeared this year but is still just 27.
Andújar? He’s appeared often, and he’s mostly played left field, which is not something he should be doing on a regular basis. His confusing time with the Yankees could be ending, though, and he’s just 2.5 years removed from a doubles-heavy Rookie of the Year runner-up campaign where he lost the crown to some Ohtani dude, who I think is a pitcher now. Weird. He’s not going to be the centerpiece in any trade, but he could easily be a supplement in a swap with another broken bench piece.
Morton will be moving at the deadline somewhere, and whoever gets him will be obtaining a winner. The only question will be whether the Braves still believe in Garcia or would prefer a hypothetical Dodgers package — but how far will Los Angeles really go for a rental?
Yankees: 3 players NYY need more from in second half of season
The New York Yankees need more from SO many of their players, but these three specifically need to step up in the second half of the season.