Yankees: 3 waiver trades we wish NYY were able to make in August

2. Get Taylor Rogers from Twins

Yes, this would be a “risk,” but just listen for a moment.

Rogers is currently on the shelf and ended up not being dealt at the trade deadline because of an injured finger (he’s dealing with a tendon issue). However, the left-hander just declined season-ending surgery and will opt to rest and rehab for a little longer to see if he can get back on the mound in 2021.

Not the rosiest of projections for the rest of the way, but what’s the harm in trading for him, stashing him on the IL, and hoping for a return? If not, you still get him for all of 2022! He’s entering his final year of arbitration eligibility.

This would allow the Bombers to jettison one of Aroldis Chapman or Zack Britton this offseason, given the two lefties have largely been maddeningly inconsistent in 2021. They simply cannot be anchoring the bullpen in 2022. And now there’s concern over Chapman’s elbow after he just landed on the IL.

The Twins might not want to “sell low” right now, but the Yankees have enough organizational depth to coax them to make a deal. Rogers was an All-Star this year and owns a 3.35 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP with 59 strikeouts in 40.1 innings of work as Minnesota’s closer. The floundering Twins have no use for him.

It’d be hard for him to pass through waivers given his contract situation, but again, this is a fake wish list that can never come true.