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MLB Trade Deadline: 5 young players the Yankees could trade for an ace

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 18: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees follows through on his grounder hit in an MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees lost 2-1. Teams wore camouflage caps and accessories to honor the military today for Armed Forces Day. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 18: Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees follows through on his grounder hit in an MLB baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18, 2019 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees lost 2-1. Teams wore camouflage caps and accessories to honor the military today for Armed Forces Day. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – APRIL 16: 2017 1st round pick of the New York Yankees, Clarke Schmidt (32) of the Tarpons delivers a pitch to the plate during the Florida State League game between the Bradenton Marauders and the Tampa Tarpons on April 16, 2019, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – APRIL 16: 2017 1st round pick of the New York Yankees, Clarke Schmidt (32) of the Tarpons delivers a pitch to the plate during the Florida State League game between the Bradenton Marauders and the Tampa Tarpons on April 16, 2019, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Clarke Schmidt

Right-hander Clarke Schmidt was the Yankees first-round pick out of college in 2016 despite entering the draft on the heels of Tommy John surgery. The Yankees were confident in the pick despite the surgery and were able to sign him below slot value. The 23-year-old did not make his professional debut until the 2018 season, missing two entire years while recovering.

Schmidt is now 19 starts into his pro career, and the results have been worth the wait. His innings count has been brought along slowly, but he has a 3.19 ERA in 79 frames and has struck out 95 while allowing only three home runs. The Yankees have been giving him a chance to pitch deeper into games this year, and he has gone at least five innings in his last two starts.

The right-hander should develop quickly given his age and college career, and he is projected to reach the big leagues next season. There isn’t necessarily front-of-the-rotation potential in Schmidt, but his floor is much higher than most starting pitching prospects. He should reach his upside as a mid-rotation starter without much issue.

If the Yankees are to pull off a trade for an elite starting pitcher, Schmidt will be the type of prospect to solidify a package and make sure a deal gets done. He won’t be the headliner, but that doesn’t take away from his value.

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