MLB Rumors: New York Yankees are actively trying to deal

Imagine the scene in the Tampa Bay Rays’ front office. General manager Andrew Friedman is sitting around with another front office person (title unknown).

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“Andrew, your phone is buzzing again. Want me to get it?”

“Who is it?”

“It says it’s Brian Cashman.”

“Ugh. No let it go. That dude will not leave me alone. No I won’t trade you David Price, Brian. Not for those prospects. Sheesh!”

“That’s funny, boss.”

“He even snapchats me about it sometimes. Yesterday he just sent one with a picture of Price in it that said ‘PLEASE’. Pathetic.”

OK, so maybe it doesn’t look exactly like that, but we do know one thing: Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman is working the phones, trying to make a trade to improve the team’s rotation. He said as much this weekend, as passed along by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com:

"“I’m looking to make some additions if I can,” Cashman said. “I’d like to try and do things before those guys get back if possible. But I’ve already been trying, so there’s a reason we haven’t done anything. It’s not because a lack of phone calls.”"

There is still plenty of time for Cashman to make a deal, of course, even if his calls have come up short so far. Hoch also lays out what will probably be the realistic targets for the Yankees in a trade:

"There are second-tier pitchers, however, who could interest the Yankees. The Cubs’ Jason Hammel, the Phillies’ Cliff Lee and former Yankee Ian Kennedy – now with the Padres – have been rumored as possible targets, helping a patchwork rotation that has thus far managed to stay afloat."

I’m not sure that Lee qualifies as “second tier” but the point is still well taken. That the Yankees will make a deal before the deadline is a safe bet…even if it’s not a blockbuster or not a deal involving Price.