The New York Yankees will soon welcome back right-hander and reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil to their starting rotation. However, they still need some arms.
They have been without Gerrit Cole the whole season and recently lost Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John surgery. Adding a starter is likely at the top of their priority list.
New York is currently 3 1/2 games back in the AL East and leading the Wild Card race, but some moves need to be made for them to get back on track.
Tim Britton, Aaron Gleeman and Chad Jennings of The Athletic recently listed their Top 40 trade candidates. Right-hander Merrill Kelly was among them, and the Yankees were listed as a possible fit.
"On a staff that’s lost Corbin Burnes and can’t find the proper versions of Zac Gallen and Eduardo Rodriguez, it’s Kelly that’s been the standout. He’s been better than Gallen in just about every way, so his ranking behind him owes mostly to the track record before 2025. Even then, it’s not like Kelly’s come from nowhere. His ERA is 3.47 since the start of 2022."
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Kelly has made 19 starts with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. In those starts, he is 7-5 with a 3.41 ERA and 2.7 WAR. He also has pitched 111 innings and recorded 107 strikeouts.
The 36-year-old is easily one of the top starters available on the market. It is unclear what Arizona will do.
They haven't declared themselves sellers, but they also are more of a fringe contender, while the Yankees are firmly in the postseason race.
The Yankees don't have a lot of top prospects to spare, and Kelly is a rental starter, which comes in high demand at trade deadlines. But New York would certainly benefit from having his veteran presence around in the second half.
Kelly also helped Arizona reach the World Series in 2023, so he brings valuable postseason experience as well.
We'll see if Arizona and New York can work out a deal.
More MLB: Nationals predicted to trade 3.95 ERA pitcher to either Yankees or Mets