2. Alex Gordon
It does seem highly unlikely that Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon would be willing to waive his no-trade rights and accept a trade to New York at this point of his career. The Royals, despite their rebuilding status, also might not have much interest in trading a franchise icon. Both sides are probably fine with letting the final year of his contract play out and then proceeding on a year-to-year basis to allow the three-time All-Star to play his entire career in Kansas City.
That being said, Gordon is an interesting outfield name for the Yankees to kick the tires on. He is a lefty hitter and still plays outstanding defense, even at the age of 35. Gordon’s four-year, $72-million contract with the Royals looks like a colossal disappointment in hind sight, but he has managed to rebound at the plate this year.
Gordon has hit only .231/.316/.370 since re-signing with the Royals after the 2015 World Series title, but he is hitting a more robust .263/.345/.448 this year with 10 home runs and 48 RBI in 76 games. That’s hardly elite production from a corner outfielder, but much better than the first three years of his contract.
The Yankees should continue monitoring the market for veteran outfielders and get more involved if they suffer another injury. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Jones is another cheap veteran who will be on the move at the deadline this year, and he is very familiar with the AL East.