Perhaps the biggest prize that could be available at the MLB trade deadline is San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, who is in the final year of his deal and will likely command a big contract this offseason.
Of course, the fact that the Giants have somehow wriggled their way back into playoff contention by winning 15 of their last 18 games could complicate matters, but San Francisco hardly resembles a World Series contender, so they would still be better-served cashing in on Bumgarner now before he potentially walks for nothing this winter.
Plus, the Giants really need to rebuild, anyway.
While Bumgarner is obviously generating significant interest around the league, one team in particular that should go all-in on trying to acquire Bumgarner is the New York Yankees.
Here are three reasons why:
3. The Health of Luis Severino
Yankees' No. 1 starter Luis Severino has not pitched at all this season due to a shoulder injury, and he has suffered a setback in the process. Some have stated that he could return by late August, but at this point, who knows?
Obviously, New York has gotten by just fine without Severino, as the Yankees have still managed to grab the best record in the American League and seem poised to run away with the AL East.
But, as we all know, the playoffs are not like the regular season, so if Severino is not able to go at all this year, the Yanks could run into some problems in a playoff series.
The fact that Severino's season is hanging in the balance should add that much more incentive for Brian Cashman to pursue another frontline starter.
2. Do the Yankees Even Have a True Ace?
Let's say Severino comes back in late August as some expect and is just fine. Even then, do the Yankees really have a true ace?
Severino has posted terrific numbers in each of the last two years, but let's remember the he faded miserably down the stretch last season, and his playoff track record is not exactly great, as he has logged a 6.26 ERA over six career playoff appearances.
Yeah, I know. Small sample size, yada yada, all that, but for a team looking to win a World Series, it has to be somewhat concerning to possibly not even have a true No. 1 on its staff.
Masahiro Tanaka is really the only Yankees pitcher who has proven to be big-time in the playoffs (not counting CC Sabathia, who is just too old to depend on at this point). James Paxton has been somewhat disappointing in his first year in the Bronx and has never pitched in the playoffs in his life, and J.A. Happ is not a guy you want to get behind in a pivotal playoff game.
1. Madison Bumgarner Is a Proven Playoff Performer
We saw last year during the Yankees' ALDS loss to the Boston Red Sox how much New York's lack of starting pitching was an issue, as everyone outside of Tanaka shriveled under the bright lights.
Bumgarner does not have that problem.
The soon-to-be-30-year-old is one of the greatest postseason performers ever, having won three World Series with the Giants and boasting a lifetime playoff ERA of 2.14 and a WHIP of 0.899. And who could forget his remarkable performance in the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, when he went 2-0 as a starter and then came out of the bullpen to close out Game 7?
The Yankees are in desperate need of that type of guy to lead their pitching staff in October, and Bumgarner is exactly it.
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