The New York Yankees have made a lot of solid moves in the last few months in order to put themselves in the position to win the American League East.
But the Bronx Bombers need to make a few more moves before the trade deadline to maximize their World Series potential.
Sports Illustrated’s Colin Keane recently suggested the Yankees could pursue a trade for St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz in the coming weeks.
“The New York Yankees are looking to fortify their bullpen in preparation for another postseason run,” Keane wrote. “Don’t look now, but the Major League Baseball trade deadline is just a little over five weeks away.
“(Steven) Matz could be a great fit for the Yankees’ bullpen. His experience as a starter also provides flexibility, which would allow manager Aaron Boone to deploy him in various roles, from bridging to the closer or handling critical setup innings. To acquire Matz, the Yankees could pull from their deep farm system to present an enticing offer to the Cardinals, whose status should have them focused on shedding payroll and prioritizing younger players.”
The Yankees have some solid talent in the bullpen. They might want to pursue a high-leverage arm like Ryan Helsley or Mason Miller (albeit, Miller is very, very unlikely), but trade for Matz doesn’t make much sense.
The Yankees will need to spend their prospect capital on a starting pitcher before they spend it on a starter turned bullpen arm. Matz wouldn’t be much of an upgrade in the Yankees’ bullpen at this point in time, despite the lefty putting together a solid season.
