5 trades the Yankees can make during the Winter Meetings

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman surrounded by reporters on the field before the MLB season-opener game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON., Canada March 29, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 18: Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) delivers a pitch to the plate during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians on September 18, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Yankees make the big move for Corey Kluber

Some Yankees fans would prefer to see Trevor Bauer in this deal over Kluber, but his “quirky” personality makes his move to the Bronx unlikely. Instead, fans would just have to settle for one of the American League’s most dominant starters in this deal.

Everyone knows Cleveland wants to move either Kluber or Bauer after locking up Carlos Carrasco on a really modest extension. That means a bidding war will almost certainly ensue. Acquiring a pitcher who put up a WAR of 5.8 last season is never going to be cheap. The Indians would also send Kipnis in this deal to shed some salary.

In this deal, the Indians take a shot on Gray to fill Kluber’s spot in the rotation. He won’t give Cleveland the same value that Kluber did, but he could establish himself as a league average starter again next year with a little luck.

The real prize here is Florial. He has a chance to become a star center fielder. Thairo Estrada doesn’t have that type of ceiling, but he projects as a decent middle infielder.

Will the Yankees refuse to deal Estevan Florial?. dark. Next

This represents just the sort of all-in move that Yankees fans are craving. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Cashman feels the same way. His moves, or lack thereof, next week will send a clear signal to the team’s fan base.

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