Yankees could end up plugging starting pitching hole with a Shark
By Josh Hill
In need of starting pitching, the New York Yankees might cut a deal that lands them Jeff Samardzija from San Francisco.
While the baseball trade rumor mill is spinning on the Manny Machado axis, there are other prisms through which light can shine. It seems impossible to not talk about the New York Yankees as we approach the deadline, but not every conversation needs to be about landing Machado.
In fact, mostly lost in the gare of the Machado-to-New York chatter is the fact that the Yankees still desperately need another reliable starting pitcher. That’s where mostly all of the resources being talked about in a potential Machado package should be focused.
That’s a memo the San Francisco Giants are trying get through to Brian Cashman. San Francisco isn’t in a position to be total sellers at the deadline, but are looking to move Jeff Samardzija to secure some future investments.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Giants specifically informed the Yankees that Samardzija is available. If there has ever been a gentler nudge, we haven’t seen it.
Samardzija — nicknamed Shark — has had a tough go of things this season, spending most of his time on the DL while struggling on the mound when healthy. He’s shown flashes this year of being the reliable starter he’s been before, and he’ll likely come much cheaper than most other options the Yankees are looking at.
Assuming the Blue Jays will simply hand-off J.A. Happ is misguided, and channelling every resource into acquiring Machado is reckless. However, with the Giants apparent willingness to do business with New York, there’s a chance that the Yankees land Machado while Samardzija plugs the starting pitching hole.
Of course, moving his almost-$20 million contract is going to be tricky and acts as a major hangup in any deal, whether with the Yankees or not.
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Brian Cashman has options as we near the deadline, but this latest wrinkle seems favorable. It’s been a while since we’ve watched the Yankees have their cake and eat it too, but most history ends up repeating itself.