MLB Rumors: New York Yankees proposed deals for Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel
By Hayden Kane
The New York Yankees need starting pitching. That hole on their roster has only been magnified by the recent setback suffered by C.C. Sabathia in his rehab from a knee injury. That would have made them logical trade partners for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, right?
It makes sense, then, when we learn that the Yankees made offers to the Chicago Cubs for both Samardzija and Hammel once the calendar flipped to July.
Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office probably figured they had a good shot to land one guy or the other. Even if they missed on one, they could have the Cubs circle back to their offer for the other. Given the prospects the Yankees have available to deal, it always seemed like Hammel would have been the more logical fit.
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That all made sense until the Oakland Athletics selfishly traded for both Samardzija and Hammel on Friday, shaking up the trade landscape before the season has even reached the All-Star break. With that deal in the books, we learned officially that the Yankees made offers for both pitchers.
That leaves the Yankees with the same options as before, though it will be that much more difficult. The suitors for David Price will likely ramp up their offers now that Samardzija is gone; this is especially true since he landed on a team that was rarely mentioned as interested in the first place. The suitors for less costly options, guys like Bartolo Colon, Jorge De La Rosa, or possibly Cliff Lee, will also turn their urgency up another level as well.
We know that Cashman was already working the phones to try and get a deal done. That included proposed deals to the Cubs. Now he and his front office will have to turn elsewhere in a more crowded market in their search for starting pitching.