Cubs' lineup vs. Yankees features a potentially intriguing trade deadline hint

If the New York Yankees were hoping to get an up-close-and-personal look at potential trade deadline target Carson Kelly in their opener against the Chicago Cubs, it won't be coming on the field. Instead, they'll have to arrange a meet-up behind the scenes or something, maybe in Wrigley Field's ancient underground tunnels.

Kelly, who was introduced informally to the catching rumor mill on Thursday by ESPN's Jeff Passan, will likely not be changing hands unless the contending Cubs can deploy him in their search for MLB pitching. Neither Will Warren nor Ryan Weathers would feel like a proximate trade match for Kelly, who's on an expiring contract, but he'd be a great fit behind the plate in the Bronx, providing above-league average offense (rare for a catcher at a 102 OPS+) and sturdy defense.

He's also a right-handed bat. Behind the plate. Seriously. They do exist.

With Ryan Jeffers watching his Twins surge into the Wild Card picture, Shea Langeliers injured, and Hunter Goodman only available for a king's ransom, a catcher like Kelly or Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds would seem to represent the peak of the Yankees' possibilities as this odd deadline unfolds. And ... what do you know? Kelly, along with longshot trade target Seiya Suzuki (given that the Cubs are, you know, good) are both out of the lineup for Friday's opener.

Honestly, it's surprising that Warren is going to pitch this one for the Yankees (though, if things change, that would be the scratch heard 'round the world).

This could be a whole lot of nothing. The Cubs are in the midst of a 17-game stretch without an off day (this is Game No. 8), and catchers typically get off their feet all the time. Still, it would be an awfully convenient time for the Yankees to force the Cubs' hand and make Kelly switch dugouts, especially with both the Red Sox and Rays also actively seeking catching upgrades.

Can Yankees pull off a Carson Kelly trade without Friday starter Will Warren?

Controllable starting pitching - even of the wilting variety, like Warren - is reserved for larger deals, not two months of rock-solid catching help. The Yankees probably want to hold Warren back for a bigger splash, likely with the Miami Marlins. Would Kyle Carr and Brendan Beck get it done? That's a moderate-upside lefty who's already reached Triple-A and a viable spot starter who's held down the fort against the Texas Rangers this year (and, uh, been rocked by Jeffers' Twins).

Warren would work, but the Cubs would have to throw in a prospect to make it all make sense. Stay tuned.

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