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Yankees trade deadline twist? 3 unlikely rivals who could help them
At some level, Yankees GM Brian Cashman engages with all the other 29 MLB teams in trade discussions, and that includes rivals – crosstown and otherwise.
Deals with the Mets, the Red Sox and with fellow league contenders are still rare, but in this unique trade market – with so many clubs in play for a playoff spot – there might be a climate for some unusual dealmaking.
Ahead of Monday's 6 p.m. MLB deadline, here's our suggested trio of possibilities with trade partners that might not ordinarily discuss sending potential impact players to the Bronx:
A year after their heated AL East battle, would the Blue Jays be willing to help the Yanks’ pennant drive?
Maybe it depends on the scale.
What Toronto fan wants to see impending free agent George Springer wearing pinstripes down the stretch and into October?
Still, the remaining $7.5 million on Springer’s 2026 contract and his DH-only status might be an obstacle to the Bronx, especially if Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are returning in September.
Nearing age 37, Springer’s .720 OPS this year is a big drop from last year’s .959 on a World Series team.
Jays’ center fielder Daulton Varsho, another impending free agent, would be a better fit if he were a right-handed hitter, which brings us to outfielder Myles Straw.
The right-handed hitting Straw, 31, hasn’t approached last year’s offensive output, when he posted a 2.8 WAR (baseball-reference.com) in 137 games.
But Straw provides plus-defense and base stealing ability with plenty of postseason experience dating to his Houston Astro days.
Straw does have roughly $2.5 million left on his 2026 contract, with a $1.75 million buyout for 2027, which might be too pricey for a depth piece – unless the Yanks move an outfielder or two in other deals.
Right-hander Jeff Hoffman lost his closer’s role to Louie Varland, but he’s posted a 1.40 ERA as a setup reliever over his last 20 games. He’s also got one year left on his contract at $11 million, a price that seems very unappealing to the Yanks.
New York Mets
There’s a flotilla of Mets relievers that could be pitching for pennant contenders next week, with one of them perhaps staying in town.
Maybe it didn’t end well last September and October with Luke Weaver and the Yanks.
But the right-hander has more than regained his footing as a Met, yielding just one earned run over his last 30 innings (since May 1) through Tuesday.
Yankees closer David Bednar is a free agent after this year. Weaver’s contract runs through 2027 at $11 million annually, which is steeper than the Yanks pay relievers in their post-Aroldis Chapman period.
But there’s an appeal to Weaver’s New York experience as both a setup man and a closer, with a contract that comes off the books after next year.
Another recent ex-Yankee, Clay Holmes is expected to opt out of his remaining $12 million for 2027 and enter free agency.
Rehabbing from a fractured leg (suffered in a May 15 game vs. the Yanks), Holmes could provide further rotation insurance or provide multi-inning relief.
Question is, what return trade package would satisfy the Mets' brass (and their fan base) for boosting the Yankees' pennant chances during another bitter year in Queens?
Impending free agent outfielder Tyrone Taylor has a lot of appeal as a right-handed hitting depth piece, with some pop, base stealing ability and defensive versatility.
Plus, he’s swinging a hot bat lately, with a 1.597 OPS in his last 11 games through Tuesday.
Houston Astros
This might be a reach…
But is there a way for the Yanks and Astros to help boost areas of need at the big-league level, on a not-too-dramatic scale?
Houston’s bullpen ranked 18 th among MLB clubs entering Wednesday, and their relievers had logged the third-most innings of any AL club.
At this rate, Camilo Doval won’t have any leveraged role for the remainder of the Yanks’ 2026 season. The same with Jake Bird, who is back at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Meanwhile, the Astros recently optioned right-handed hitting center fielder Jake Meyers, 30, at Triple-A after a rough first half (.580 OPS in 52 games) and a diminished role.
Meyers earns $3.55 million this year and will be a free agent after the 2027 season. The talented but erratic Doval earns $6.1 million and is also a free agent after 2027.
If neither player is in his team’s remaining 2026 plans, maybe there’s common ground to be found here (maybe the Yanks should inquire first on fellow righty-hitting outfielder Zach Dezenzo)?
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees trade deadline twist? 3 unlikely rivals who could help them
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