Yankees: 3 rental trade candidates Brian Cashman should avoid

2. Starling Marte

Again, another hot commodity hitting free agency that the Yankees would be foolish to chase given the amount of teams involved and their murky future.

Starling Marte and the Miami Marlins have ended contract extension talks and “at least three teams” are interested in acquiring the veteran outfielder. The versatile defender (he can play center and left field) has a positive dWAR and has swiped 19 bags this year to go along with a .285 average and .831 OPS. Exactly what the Yankees need!

But also exactly what a number of other teams need! Marte is the quintessential trade deadline acquisition for those willing to overpay in exchange for a guy who can do a little bit of everything at an above-average capacity. That’s Marte. He’d be a fit for the 59-33 Yankees! Not the 48-44 Yankees. Nope.

Additionally, Marte is about to be 33 years old and hasn’t played in more than 150 games in a season since 2015. He won’t be part of the Yankees’ long-term plans and likely wouldn’t be part of a short-term turnaround that features a World Series run. So what’s the use? He’s already turned down an extension of three years and $30 million in Miami. Will Cashman ever pay him more than that, with Aaron Hicks returning? Signs point to no.

Save the top prospects for offseason trades and give old friend Derek Jeter a call then. He might have more intriguing younger players available in the coming months anyway.