What should the Yankees give up for Marcus Stroman?

The Yankees are scouting a number of pitchers, but Marcus Stroman tops the list. What should the team give up in a trade for the talented starter?

As the trade deadline approaches it seems pretty clear the bona fide ace the Yankees would love to acquire will not be available. That doesn’t mean GM Brian Cashman can’t give Aaron Boone’s pitching staff a much-needed boost. Swinging a deal for Marcus Stroman would give the Yankees a quality No. 2 or 3 starter for years to come.

Stroman isn’t the only pitcher the Yankees are actively discussing, but he might represent the best option available on the open market. He’s already made it clear that he is excited at the prospect of pitching under the “bright lights” at Yankee Stadium. His experience competing against AL East opponents and propensity to prod hitters into hitting ground balls are also very attractive qualities for the Yankees.

The question Cashman and company need to answer now is what price they may be forced to pay Toronto to get a deal done. Any potential deal between the two division rivals will fall into one of two main categories.

The first, and most likely option for the Blue Jays to chase will be to flip Stroman for a young player capable of making an immediate impact on their major league roster. For the Yankees, that doesn’t necessarily require a player who is currently in the Bronx. Clint Frazier lines up as a really appealing prospect for a Blue Jays franchise working to build a powerful lineup for the future. Toronto will start negotiations by asking for Gleyber Torres, but in the end, they’d be satisfied with someone like Frazier.

The other potential route for the deal to take would be to build a transaction around two high-level prospects. That doesn’t mean the Yankees are going to build a package around Deivi Garcia. Expect him to be deemed untouchable in all talks. The team isn’t going to give up on a player they see as a potential ace for a middle of the rotation starter.

Instead, players like Thairo Estrada and Jonathan Loaisiga would make a lot of sense for Toronto. Estrada is a victim of a numbers crunch in the Yankees infield. He’d be up and playing every day for a number of big league clubs. The Blue Jays could slot him into their every day lineup immediately.

Loaisiga might take a little more time to make his impact felt in the big leagues, but he’s flashed real potential during his relatively brief time with the Yankees. The Blue Jays could easily profile him to take Stroman’s spot in their starting rotation for years to come.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference for the Blue Jays. They will need to choose between the more established commodity in Frazier, or two prospects in the form of Estrada and Loaisiga. Expect the Toronto front office to favor the choice with the highest ceiling. A swap of Estrada and Loaisiga for Stroman would represent a win for both teams.