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MLB Trade Rumors: Five relief pitcher targets for the Chicago Cubs

By Dan Schmelzer

Jun 6, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Los Angeles Anglels during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the Angels 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Los Angeles Anglels during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the Angels 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Andrew Miller
Jun 6, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Los Angeles Anglels during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the Angels 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Andrew Miller

The Cubs have been commonly connected to the New York Yankees relief ace in recent weeks, and for good reason. Miller is arguably the best relief pitcher in baseball, and is the kind of guy who you target for legitimate run at the World Series. On top of that, he is left-handed.

If the 34-35 fourth-place Yankees decide to sell, Miller is going to be highly coveted by every contending MLB team. He is an obvious fit for the Cubs, but the asking price is going to be astronomical because Miller is the best and many other teams will be interested.

Slugger Kyle Schwarber and do-everything infielder Javier Baez have both been mentioned as possible targets that the Yankees would be interested in from the Cubs in exchange for Miller.

The Yankees wanting a huge haul for Miller (who they have under team control for two more seasons after 2016) makes plenty of sense, but I am not sure that the Cubs will be willing to meet their asking price.

The Cubs are extremely unlikely to part with either player (for good reason), but that is the kind of haul the Yankees are going to be looking for.

I do not really see Miller as an overly realistic trade target for the Cubs, but crazier things have certainly happened. Miller is fantastic, and the Cubs are in a position to win now, but Baez and Schwarber are not going anywhere.

If the Yankees are willing to listen to a package of elite prospects as opposed to the guys mentioned above, then there could be something here.

Next: 4. Sean Doolittle

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