{"id":22604,"date":"2019-07-24T15:37:53","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T19:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=22604"},"modified":"2019-07-24T15:37:53","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T19:37:53","slug":"yankees-potential-trade-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/07\/24\/yankees-potential-trade-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Yankees Potential Trade Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yankees Trade Targets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It’s that time of the year to think about the New York Yankees<\/a> potential trade targets. The Yankees are almost always buyers, and this year is no different. With a 64-35 record and a nine-game lead over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>, the Yankees seem once again to make another World Series run. That is barring a collapse which is unlikely with all the talent on the Yankees roster.<\/p>\n

The Yankees greatest need is at starting pitching. Ace pitcher Luis Severino<\/a><\/strong> is still rehabbing a lat injury. The question needs to be asked if we will ever see Severino pitch this year. His return date has been pushed back several times already. Also missing in action is talented but, at times, maligned\u00a0Dellin Betances<\/a><\/strong>. Betances is a major piece of the great Yankee bullpen. If both pitchers were healthy it is at least questionable if the Yankees would need to add any pitching.<\/p>\n

As of today there 19 teams either in a playoff spot or within five games of a playoff spot. That is more than half the league. This creates a problem with not many players available and a lot of competition to trade for those players who are.<\/p>\n

Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Madison Bumgarner<\/a><\/strong> is a pitcher every team would love to have for the stretch run. After all, Bumgarner has a great postseason history, including three world championships with the San Francisco Giants<\/a>. But Bumgarner is a free agent at the end of the season and has a no-trade clause with the Yankees. Bumgarner could waive the no-trade clause if he was signed long-term by the Yankees. This would require the Yankees trading more players to get the star pitcher.<\/p>\n

It is also possible the Giants would like to include a reliever like Mark Melancon<\/a><\/strong> to shed some salary. However, the reliever the Yankees would want is Will Smith<\/a><\/strong>. Smith is also a free agent at the end of the season. The Giants would ultimately rather trade both their chips in separate deals to maximize their return. The Giants have caught fire and are now two games out of a wildcard spot. This could change the Giants from a seller to a buyer.<\/p>\n

\n

Few see MadBum going anywhere now. Things can change in a hurry but this is typical from rival exec: \u201cNo way Giants can sell, they\u2019re on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 23, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n