The New York Yankees have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. They could be looking for some starting pitchers as the trade deadline inches closer.

The Yankees have been without Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil all season. Unlike Cole, Gil is expected to return at some point. However, the Yankees may still want a reliable arm in the rotation to slot in behind Max Fried and Gil. Carlos Rodón and Ryan Yarbrough have pitched well, but Will Warren and Clarke Schmidt are replaceable.

BALLCAP Sports’ Jim Riley predicted the Yankees would swing a trade for Adrian Houser of the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. He noted that the Yankees may avoid trading for a frontline starter, considering how Rodón and Fried have pitched.

Houser signed as a free agent with the White Sox on May 20. He started his first game for the team that night and threw six shutout innings. He has made five starts for the White Sox and has a 2.15 ERA.

He spent the first seven years of his big league career with the Milwaukee Brewers and last season with the New York Mets. In 127 games for the Brewers, he had a 4.00 ERA and last year he had a 5.84 ERA with the Mets.

However, Houser looks like a completely different pitcher this year. His WHIP is at a career low, and his strikeouts per nine innings, hits per nine innings and walks per nine innings are all better than last season.

The White Sox are poised to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline, and Houser could be a cheap addition for the Yankees. The former second-round pick will be a free agent after the season and could be a great addition for the Yankees.