5 Yankees most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline

Domingo Germán

There's no "selling high" quite like trying to sell someone who just threw a perfect game at the end of June.

Domingo Germán is what he is, at this point. The Yankees cynically stuck with him through a domestic violence suspension because the arm talent is there. Since his return in 2021, that much has been clear ... for two-or-three-start stretches at a time, before he deposits an all-time stinker and can't harness his breakers.

Germán has a 4.77 ERA for a reason this season. He had a 4.58 mark in 2021 for a reason. He had a 3.61 ERA in 72.1 innings with a 4.44 FIP last season for a reason. This is who he is.

He's also shut down the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball this season, perfecto'd the A's, and dominated the Twins with 6.1 innings of 11-K baseball. That is also who he is (though, yes, he was suspended again this season for an over-sticky hand).

Germán's salary is only $2.6 million for the season, and a Germán trade alone will not clear the cash the Yankees need to get rid of. He's controllable for the next year and a half, though, which is tangibly attractive. He'll spin gems. He'll get tattooed (10 runs to the Mariners preceded his perfect game). He'll tantalize. He'll frustrate.

The Yankees print pitching, and their best long-term rotation (and playoff rotation) probably doesn't include Germán. If some team is willing to pay for the Dodger Stadium version of this roller coaster right-hander, the Yankees have to jump at the chance. He's the most likely Yankee to be on another team this week by far.