3 Yankees trade deadline targets who are becoming too expensive

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Starting pitcher Frankie Montas #47 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The New York Yankees have raced out of the gate in 2022, but by the time the trade deadline rolls around (on Aug. 2, which is weird), Brian Cashman will be seeking help, as he always does.

If there’s one thing we know about his potential targets, it’s that he won’t be willing to overpay, no matter how much he might value someone else’s asset. He won’t surrender too many of his beloved prospects in trade. He won’t take on someone else’s money, and will beg bad teams to help him financially if need be (thanks for Anthony Rizzo!).

So, over 2.5 months out, it feels safe to say that some of the MLB’s top available performers on terrible teams will end up too rich for Cashman’s blood.

Luckily — truly can’t believe this is real — the most screamed-about targets of the offseason, which would’ve represented Cashman going “all in,” probably weren’t necessary. The rotation and bullpen are both performing at elite levels. The lineup, though it’s hitting the same valleys as the rest of the league while dealing with the beautiful, lumpy new baseball, has been energized by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and (to an extent) Josh Donaldson.

More depth might’ve helped (and it’s going to be needed in the rotation, at some point), but it’s difficult to say with a straight face that Cashman needed to launch three or four of his young assets into the sun in exchange for a big name.

And he’s certainly not going to do it this summer when the heat is on and eight top contenders are all lined up to outbid each other for the same three dudes.

After a red-hot April, these three players are going to own the trade deadline, and the Yankees will … not be participating.

3 Yankees trade deadline targets they’ll be out-bid for

3. Frankie Montas

A tick below Carlos Correa, Trevor Story and Corey Seager on the Offseason Need Scale, Yankees fans ran themselves hoarse trying to figure out a package deal for Matt Olson and Frankie Montas this offseason.

At times, it seemed like Montas would be a White Sox or Twin before the season started, and all the angriest Yankee Twitter accounts (ours included) had their snarky tweets all drafted.

But then, the Yanks didn’t “miss out” on Montas in the days after the Sean Manaea deal after all. The reeling Oakland A’s decided to hold onto their final chip until midsummer, and as the season approaches mid-May, that seems like a wise choice for maximizing a potential return.

Remember the “post-lockout feeding frenzy” we were promised? It never really materialized or looked like a second deadline. A lot of coveted players — like Manaea! — were eventually dumped for peanuts.

Through six starts in 2022, Montas is looking much more like a seasoned veteran than a boom-or-bust hotshot. He’s kept the ball in the yard, allowing just four home runs in 36.2 innings pitched and sporting a 3.44 ERA. The right-hander has whiffed a batter per inning, and his Statcast metrics are red across the board, commensurate with someone who’s dominating the competition.

Hilariously enough, the Yankees might be the ones balking at a Gleyber Torres-for-Montas deal these days anyway, considering the second baseman’s cleaning up defensively with career-best hard-hit metrics. That’s a story for another day, though.

Bottom line, if the Yankees go rotation shopping at the deadline, they won’t be paying Montas’ escalating premium.

Scott Barlow #58 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

2. Scott Barlow

Know what’s kind of weird? Remember how the worst teams in baseball used to all carry 1-2 veteran rental relievers so they could flip them at the deadline for easy money? This year’s collection of tankers doesn’t even seem to be doing that right.

The Reds’ roster is impressively useless, unless the Yankees want Luis Cessa back. The Pirates’ crew is even cringier, with the super expensive David Bednar hanging out with the very bottom of your fantasy waiver wire. You know, the guys who retired in, like, 2005. “Why is Mike MacDougal still here?” you ask. No one answers.

The Kansas City Royals are somewhere in between friskiness and the dreaded tank, but they should still aim to sell high on a few bullpen assets if they can. With 1.5 years of control attached to him when the deadline approaches, left-hander Amir Garrett might be their best hope for striking a deal, and he’s an appropriate Yankees target/New York kid if he’s able to stay pitching at his current level.

KC might also consider unloading Scott Barlow, who’s sort of the new-school Josh Staumont. After examining the rest of MLB’s bottom feeders, he might end up being the most sought-after asset, along with the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer and his single year of control. Barlow’s signed through 2024, though, so there’s the rub. 2.5 years of control on the market is nearly unheard-of, and the journeyman reliever with a 1.46 ERA and 1.135 WHIP could cause a feeding frenzy, as long as MLB teams believe he is for real (his Statcast numbers indicate he likely is).

Adding Barlow feels too good to be true for a number of reasons, but the Yankees would rather create the next Barlow in their lab rather than overpay for this one.

Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

1. Willson Contreras

Jose Trevino’s been a defensive game-changer since joining the Yankees in a surprise pre-Opening Day trade. Kyle Higashioka has been … barely there offensively, but is providing excellent framing, as per usual.

Unfortunately … neither of them … really constitute … offense. While we appreciate Trevino, it might be nicer if he were a stunningly effective backup, slotted in behind someone who can both hold it down defensively and bash a clutch bomb every so often to fire up the crowd.

Enter Willson Contreras … or so we thought this offseason, when the Cubs signed Yan Gomes and he tweeted plane emojis around the non-tender deadline. Apparently, Chicago still saw a future for the slugger with the organization after they spread all his friends around the country, and so far, he’s off to an excellent start in his walk year.

That means the price of a deadline deal just went WAY up, as the Cubs continue to flatline by design.

Contreras has already racked up 1.1 WAR on the young season, hitting .279 with a trio of bombs, good for a well-above-league-average 147 OPS+. Does the “league average” truly stink this year with the dead ball in place? Absolutely. But, for a defensive talent behind the plate, Contreras’ numbers are quite impressive, and would serve as a stark difference for a Yankees team that seems willing to accept a zero from its catchers.

Contreras might be available, but not to the Bombers — unless they’re willing to ditch Higashioka and throw in an extra prospect so the Cubs’ll pay his entire salary like last summer’s Rizzo deal redux.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: Frankie Montas #47 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 29, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

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3 Yankees trade deadline targets they’ll be out-bid for

3. Frankie Montas

2. Scott Barlow

1. Willson Contreras

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