Will Warren nails final Yankees trade deadline audition in return to form vs. Cubs

Controllable pitching is at a premium, and contender-to-contender trades have never been rumored to be more in vogue. Given the landscape, it's hard not to think about the New York Yankees finding a new home for Will Warren in the next 72 hours, despite the role he currently occupies in their rotation. If the Yankees wanted Warren to put up a neon sign advertising his skills, they couldn't have gotten a much better farewell performance than his return to form on Friday at Wrigley Field against one of the NL's most intimidating teams.

Coming off some Sunday Night drudgery at Citizens Bank Park, the latest link in a long chain of subpar showings, Warren shined in a fashion that's become completely unfamiliar to his previously adoring fans. He reached a career-high 6 2/3 frames which were largely traffic-free; his lone "blemish" was cleaned up by Paul Blackburn in the seventh. He left Pete Crow-Armstrong bewildered and furious with a 3-2 fastball to end the third; the NL MVP front-runner (?) slammed his equipment in anger.

He must've watched Warren's recent work — 5.00 road ERA, 5.49 mark in June, 7.50 in July — and assumed he'd have an easier time. Instead, a refreshed early-season version of Warren toed the rubber, perhaps emboldened to show the Yankees his mettle one final time before judgment day.

Will Warren recaptured his Yankees magic ahead of trade deadline with 1 tweak vs. Cubs

This really was a different Warren, with one tangible change at the forefront: he threw 24 changeups, a career-high. He kept the Cubs offense off-balance, highlighted by the PCA at-bat, but on clear display throughout the outing. After years of hearing about Warren's "Michael King Lite" portfolio, he finally found his stride and command by emphasizing a different weapon in his arsenal.

Of course, this is not the first time Warren has tantalized. There's a reason he'll be prized throughout the league, and it's tough to find an ideal trade match for his 4.5 years of control. As a Mason Miller centerpiece? Sure, but not a rental in Adrian Morejon. For Shea Langeliers? Absolutely, but not for Tyler Stephenson. If Adley Rutschman, Zach Neto or Otto Lopez emerge as legitimate targets, though, his name will be floated. Brian Cashman's level of dedication to an on-the-fly revamp will determine Warren's level of availability.

And ... if this was it ... at least it all looked pretty perfectly in sync, as we were promised it would, one last time.

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