The New York Yankees’ starting staff has performed brilliantly without ace Gerrit Cole, with the second-best ERA in the majors thus far.
However, following a disastrous 2023 season, the Yankees are “hell bent on being a champion,” according to manager Aaron Boone, as reported by the AP. And consistent starting pitching is something that playoff-caliber teams cannot get enough of.
With that in mind, the Los Angeles Angels should consider the Yankees an attractive trading partner if they decide to sell starting Tyler Anderson before the deadline.
Tyler Anderson Seems Poised to Give a Playoff-Bound New York Yankees Team a Trade Deadline Boost
Anderson is having a fantastic 2024 season after nine years in the majors, with a 2.74 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. The 32-year-old southpaw was an All-Star in 2022, winning 15 games with a 2.57 ERA, but his performance declined last season. Now, it appears he has rediscovered his groove and may be an asset on a contending team, while the Angels rapidly decline toward seller status.
“The Angels came into 2024 hoping to compete, despite losing Shohei Ohtani to free agency, but it’s not going well so far,” said Darragh McDonald for MLB Trade Rumors. “Barring a miracle in the next few months, they are going to be deadline sellers in the months to come.”
Skeptics will point out that Anderson is expected to regress from his present success, and advanced statistics support that. Though he has reduced the damage, he has a.205 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), the sixth lowest in the MLB, and a top-11 strand rate, indicating that luck may catch up with him. However, if he continues to perform well in midseason, the Yankees may view him as a critical lift shortly before the playoffs.
“Though his results will likely dip a bit as the year goes on, pitching is always in demand at the deadline and the Angels could be able to eat some of his salary to get a deal done,” McDonald stated.
Anderson’s salary could be another attractive element for the Yankees. He signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Angels following his All-Star 2022 season, which will expire after next season.
If the Angels go enter rebuild mode at the deadline, the Yankees will most certainly have to give up some prospect depth to obtain Anderson, but it appears that a trade can be reached even if they keep coveted outfielder Spencer Jones.
Jones was excluded from trade talks for Dylan Cease this offseason, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. However, Anderson lacks Cease’s upside, and the Angels are likely willing to trade him for a less expensive deal.
The New York Yankees Might Have Several Pitching Option on the Trade Market
Of course, if the Yankees are prepared to part with any young assets to improve their pitching staff ahead of the playoffs, they should have a number of possibilities. Another losing team, the Chicago White Sox, appears to be even more willing to sell than the Angels, with Nightengale predicting that pitcher Chris Flexen will be available.
“Acquiring Chris Flexen could be the perfect project for (Yankees pitching coach) Matt Blake, as we’ve seen him elevate plenty of relievers for the Yanks,” Nicholas Rome said in Empire Writes Back. “As Flexen is currently stretched out as a starter, he could become the Yankees long reliever while transitioning back into a relief role.”
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