Yankees top trade chip with two prospects ‘off limits’ is 2.65 ERA righty starter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Yankees are, unsurprisingly, likely to be trade deadline buyers this season. They could use more bullpen help, a righty slugging catcher, and maybe a new third baseman or shortstop.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
To add such help to the roster this summer by the August 3 trade deadline, the Yankees are going to have to give up a valuable prospect. But, with Carlos Lagrange and George Lombard Jr. seemingly off limits, who could be dealt in their place?
As Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report writes, the Yankees could pivot from the two “off-limit” prospects to trade away 2.65 ERA right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez this summer to acquire the help they need.
“Shortstop George Lombard Jr. and flame-thrower Carlos Lagrange are off-limits in trade talks, but Rodriguez has significant value as a plug-and-play rotation piece for any rebuilding club,” Reuter writes.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Rodriguez, the 22-year-old right-hander who has a 4.76 ERA in four spot starts this season for the Yankees across 17 innings of work, would be a nice trade chip for a rebuilding squad.
While his MLB work hasn’t exactly been the best, during his five-year minor league career, he’s posted a 2.65 ERA in 384.1 innings, with a 3.00 ERA in 51 innings this season at Triple-A.
MORE: Yankees want to trade for Twins’ Ryan Jeffers by MLB deadline
If the Yankees are buying, they could use Rodriguez as their best trade chip this summer to land a high-quality player in return from a rebuilding team.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
While Rodriguez might be too rich for the Yankees to give up for Ryan Jeffers, he could be the centerpiece of a trade for a high-quality reliever like Aroldis Chapman, or an infielder who could make an instant-impact like CJ Abrams.
Since Lombard and Lagrange seem “off-limits” like Reuter described, Rodriguez might be the best trade chip the Yankees could use this summer. They have other prospects, but the righty starter has a chance to land the Yankees a top trade deadline target.
Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani might not be able to pitch during MLB All-Star Game
Phillies reportedly turn down Bryce Harper’s outfield offer to help at trade deadline
Giants are ‘hopeful ‘ they can trade Matt Chapman by MLB deadline
Giants are ‘pessimistic’ they can trade Rafael Devers or Willy Adames
Twins’ Byron Buxton trade update is bad news for Phillies, Braves
Read More Feedzy