One of the things the New York Yankees did before the final month of the season was add plenty of young talent and prospects, not just dump expensive bullpen pitchers. The thought process behind it is working a trade that will land them Jose Fernandez or Chris Sale.
Many believe that the Miami Marlins will trade Fernandez at one point or another. The 24-year old righty has been phenomenal this season, making his second all-star game while posting a 3.03 ERA through 160.1 innings, striking out an NL best 12.6 batters per nine innings, and 4.48 per every walk he gives up. He has a 3.3 WAR, but most importantly, he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season. The Marlins aren’t expected to be capable or willing to give him the kind of money a player of his production will ask for (and get somewhere), so a trade at some point is likely.
Fernandez has been on the Yankees shortlist for a number of years, and they, along with other teams, held discussions with the Marlins before the season began over what would it take to land Fernandez. However, the talks never reached an interesting point, and so Fernandez began his fourth season in Miami, doing extremely well.
Another player the Yankees and others might be after is Sale from the Chicago White Sox. It’s not just Sale’s rocky relationship with some figures in the front office that makes this possible. It’s also the White Sox possible rebuild coming up, as they’ve failed to post a winning season since 2012, and won’t be doing it this year. They haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008, and it might mean it’s time to blow things up.
The White Sox talked to teams about Sale, but no one came close to offering them what they wanted. The 27-year old has made the All-Star five years in a row, and has a 3.10 ERA this season, along with a 1.023 WHIP and 9 k’s per 9 innings, striking out 4.4 batters per nine innings. One of the best things about him is the salary: He makes $12 million this season, $12.5 million in 2018 and $13.5 million in 2019, both the last years being team options. If there’s no injury or sudden drop in ability, it’s an incredible deal for anyone, which means the White Sox will ask the world for him. The Yankees have the assets to make that deal happen.