As the trade deadline creeps up, the New York Yankees are in a good position.
At 41-25, the Yankees have built a four-game lead atop the American League East. Their roster is performing from top to bottom, but the pitching staff also looks primed for reinforcements.
Whether it’s a starter or a reliever, the Yankees need to add some innings-eaters. The bullpen is worn down in the absence of closer Luke Weaver, and starters Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough are both handling workloads they probably weren’t expecting to carry heading into the season.
Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds would be a very promising addition. The 34-year-old, who is on a one-year, $21 million qualifying offer, owns a 3.70 ERA this season while pitching in the bandbox that is Great American Ball Park.
On Thursday, FanSided’s Zach Pressnell named Martinez as the ideal Reds trade target for New York, suggesting that outfield prospect Everson Pereira would be a reasonable return for the half-season rental.
“Martinez would be the perfect addition for the Yankees,” Pressnell wrote. “The righty fills up the zone with six pitches for strikes and competes at the highest level. If the Yankees drop to a four-man rotation in the postseason, Martinez has shown impressive ability to double as a bullpen arm, too.
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“The Reds would ideally target Spencer Jones as the return in a trade like this, but they’d probably have to settle for Everson Pereira instead. Either way, Cincinnati needs to add a power-hitting outfielder to their roster and a trade with the Yankees would do that.”
Cincinnati is 34-33 entering play on Thursday, so it’s far from guaranteed that they’ll sell. But the National League looks to be tougher in terms of securing a playoff spot this year, so if they dip a few games below .500, it seems quite possible.
Martinez wouldn’t be the only name on the Yankees’ shopping list, but he’d be an encouraging one to land if that’s how things shake down.
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