After a massive offseason spending spree, the New York Yankees likely hoped they’d have an easy time running away with things in the American League East this season. That hasn’t proven to be the case though as the Bronx Bombers sit four games behind the Baltimore Orioles with a near .500 record.
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Given that, the team is expected to be active come the late 2014 MLB trade deadline and they’ve already been showing interest in a handful of players.
Once such talent they’ve had their eyes on is Edwin Jackson of the Chicago Cubs.
The starting pitcher is still owed upwards of $26 million dollars through the 2016 season, but that will reduce his asking price and the Yankees will avoid having to part with any significant prospects in a prospective deal.
"But the Yankees – who moved to within four games of first place in the AL East with a win over Cincinnati Friday – are desperate for pitching with 80 percent of their rotation down with injuries.They’re the one team with the financial muscle to take on at least some bad paper to get some semblance of major-league starting depth. And the Cubs, for one, are motivated to move Jackson – who didn’t exactly otherwise merit a start in the second-half opener."
New York Yankees scouts made their way to Edwin Jackson’s most recent start against the Arizona Diamondbacks and he proved to be solid, giving up three earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. Of course, his 5.61 ERA for the season is worrisome, especially given the offensively charged Yankee stadium. Still, with a fluttering rotation, the New York Yankees are going to need all the pitching rotation help they can muster and there are far worse options than Jackson, money aside.