The trade deadline is an exciting opportunity for the New York Yankees, but they sure do have a lot of holes this year.
Conceivably, the Yankees could walk away from the deadline with a new third baseman, a new starting pitcher, and two new relievers. Perhaps they won't pull in that full haul, but there are certainly high-maintenance fans who will demand it.
From the starting pitching angle, the Yankees should have a decent number of options, but the best prizes will come if teams that are currently on the fence about selling decide to wave the white flag.
One of those teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks, has a starter who a Yankees beat reporter thinks will interest New York greatly.
On Friday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic predicted that the Yankees would acquire D-backs righty Merrill Kelly, the decorated 36-year-old veteran whose three-year, $24 million contract expires after this season.
"The Yankees need a pitcher who could start a playoff game for them. The Diamondbacks seem destined to be sellers. Trading for Merrill Kelly would be a tremendous win for general manager Brian Cashman and his front office," wrote Kuty.
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"Max Fried and Carlos Rodón could be a strong 1-2 punch at the front of a postseason rotation, and Luis Gil seems poised to make his way back from injury. But Kelly misses bats at a high clip, and as a rental, his price shouldn’t be sky high."
Kelly has pitched to an impressive 3.34 ERA in 20 starts this season, striking out 113 batters in 116 innings. That's tied for the 12th most innings of any pitcher in baseball, meaning the Yankees could have three of the top 12 moving forward.
Of course the D-backs could still decide not to sell, and Kelly would have a lot of suitors if he hit the market. But Kelly would be the right starter to target, and the Yankees should be optimistic about their chances.
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