4 trade targets Yankees must avoid at 2022 deadline

3. Amir Garrett

Mea culpa on Amir Garrett, folks. In previous projections, it was very easy to see the ex-Red as an ideal fit for New York. He can bring the heat on the mound, sure, but the St. John’s basketball alum and Victorville, CA native can also bring the spice to any and all dugout fights. When the Yankees needed both a seventh inning guy and an injection of fire, Garrett seemed like a natural instigator.

This offseason, though, he was swapped for Mike Minor and his $10 million salary, a confusing “win never” move from Cincinnati that resulted in a reset for the Bombers. Perhaps, by the trade deadline, Garrett would have established himself once again as a prime target?

Not so much.

Only recently back from injury, the 30-year-old Garrett has posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 14.2 innings pitched (with 18 Ks, if you really want to believe). Garrett hasn’t thrown nearly enough this season to give Statcast their requisite data, but so far, he isn’t spinning the fastball at the necessary level, either, clocking in at the 40th percentile.

This doesn’t appear to be a fluke, either, or sudden-onset struggles Garrett can blame on injury. After his exceptional shortened 2020, he put up a 6.00+ ERA last season, too, in 47.2 innings (6.04, to be exact). Garrett might be a buy-low bullpen salve for someone else, and he’s controllable through 2023. If the Yankees go ‘pen, though, they need to take the chance on a “buy high” option; otherwise, rolling with Sears and Ron Marinaccio would be a preferable risk.