Trade Buzz: Who the Yankees DON'T Need

As Major League Baseball's trade market has already heated up with July's trade deadline approaching next Friday, a number of teams have publicly confessed to be sellers, leaving an astounding number of valuable players on the chopping block for the remaining contending teams to grapple over. Yankees' General Manager Brian Cashman has admitted to reporters that he intends to stand pat with his active roster, and that no major trades are on the horizon. But could Cashman's word of mouth be a smokescreen to something larger? Are prospects such as Rob Refsnyder, Luis Severino, and Aaron Judge untouchable? With a comfortable cushion in the American League East, will the Yankees stick to their guns, or look to enhance their roster for a legitimate championship run? 

Here are a few players that New York will consider, but should ignore this summer. 

P- David Price (DET): 9-3, 2.32 ERA, 127 K

With the loss of Max Scherzer to the Nationals last winter, Detroit was left with a gaping hole in their pitching rotation. Holding on to both Scherzer and lefty David Price was not a realistic or affordable solution, so management decided to hold on to one arm for the 2015 campaign. Once former ace Justin Verlander landed on the disabled list with a tricep injury, the Tigers were forced to put all of their eggs into the David Price basket, and thus far, Price has done the job in Detroit. The lefty has handled his division rivals, as his ERA against the AL Central is at 1.71, while opponents have collectively hit .242 in Price's 19 starts. In 132 innings pitched, Price's strikeout to walk ratio is 127:26, the seventh highest in the American League. The perks to Price is his longevity and health, but his performance has been so dominant, that Detroit will most likely fail to keep their southpaw come this winter, as Price becomes a free agent. With significant injuries to the Tigers' bullpen and first base slugger, Miguel Cabrera, Detroit has lacked competitiveness in a surging AL Central race, forcing management to dump Price, who is due nearly $20 million at the end of the year.

P- Johnny Cueto (CIN): 6-6, 2,79 ERA, 115 K

Cueto has transformed into one of baseball's best right handed arms, but his overall lack of consistency has left critics skeptical about Cueto's reliability. First off, dealing with a low run scoring National League club like Cincinnati can explain Cueto's wins and losses, but when examining his numbers this year, his potential somewhere else is slightly disconcerting. Surprisingly, Cueto's run support has been exceptional, as the Reds average 2.7 runs with their ace on the hill, but Cueto has only 11 quality starts in 18 total appearances. Less than a month ago, Cueto was scratched from his scheduled start due to arm fatigue, leaving many wondering if Cueto's health was at jeopardy. There has yet to be any reason to believe that a season-ending injury looms, but there have been red flags with his health and mental approach, which could explain his fluctuating numbers and ultimately affect his value on the market. 

2B- Brandon Phillips (CIN): .281 BA, 5 HR, 32 RBI

For a few seasons now, Phillips has been on the Yankees' radar during late July and early January. As one of the best second baseman in the league for the last decade, the issues around Phillips have been his latest injuries and contract disputes. Prior to this season, Phillips' offensive attributes dipped, as his batting average hung around .260 for the majority of 2013 and 2014. Luckily this season, he found his old swing, and boosted his average back into the low-.280's. However, his watermark of 103 runs driven in in 2013 appear to be video game numbers compared to his hitting with runners in scoring position this season (.260, 24 RBI). The reasoning? It could be the Reds' lack of offensive production and that Phillips is generally the table setter, but at the age of 34, Phillips' state of health sparked concern last season when the veteran missed nearly two months with a thumb injury. Phillips is under contact until the end of the 2017 season, and is due roughly $25 million by the time he is eligible for free agency. Despite some minor red flags, Phillips' defense is spectacular, as he competes for his fifth Gold Glove. The Yankees have grown content with consistent defense from Stephen Drew, though there is no doubt that Phillips in pinstripes would be an upgrade on both ends. 

P- Mike Leake (CIN): 7-5. 3.95 ERA, 81 K

As a teammate to Cueto, Mike Leake has gained a great amount of popularity this summer as a potential back end starter to a contending ballclub. Leake's statistics are not as impressive as Price's or Cueto's, but Leake has earned seven wins with the Reds, limiting his opponents to a .252 batting average in 19 games. Although the average is down, the total runs and hits surrendered is not, as Leake has given up 115 hits in 120.2 innings, averaging 8.6 hits per outing. Leake's velocity sits in the low to mid-90s, and the upside to his game has yet to be found.  The 27-year old is still waiting for his breakout season, but with a little help from the trade market, Leake may be a cheap solution to a team in need of an arm. 

 2B- Chase Utley (PHI): .179 BA, 4 HR, 25 RBI

Much like Philadelphia's offense, Utley's season has been anemic; in his contract year with the Phillies, the 36-year old veteran has collectively hit a measly .179 in 65 games, and has failed to stay on the field with multiple setbacks to an injured ankle. Utley's All-Star status is now behind him, and for a man who played in 155 games last year, the odds of Utley returning to old form are slim. Philadelphia will evidently part ways with the second baseman in October, and the lingering ankle injury may force Utley to hang up the cleats for good. Although Utley's offensive numbers are a smaller sample size in comparison to Stephen Drew's, it is reasonable to argue that Utley has been the worst second baseman in the league, and if any team is even slightly interested in the vet, Philadelphia should not hesitate to ship him out for a low cost. 


P- Matt Latos (MIA): 4-6, 4.48 ERA, 74 K

Latos left Cincinnati for a brief one-year stint with Miami, and while analysts projected the right hander as a valuable asset come mid-July, Latos' numbers say otherwise. Despite his performance not being reciprocated by Miami's offense, Latos has surrendered 79 hits in 82.1 innings pitched, and when facing the top-5 hitters in a lineup, opponents have earned a batting average of .282.  Injuries to his knee and foot have limited his outings, and while also renowned as an unfriendly face in the clubhouse, there are affordable solutions elsewhere for the back end of the rotation. 



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