Yankees linked to fireballer in potential trade; Phillies, Dodgers loom as threats

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is under even more pressure than usual at this year’s trade deadline.

This Yankees team has potential, but it also has flaws the entire world can see. Third base and the bullpen have been high on that list all season, while the starting rotation has also grown in concern thanks to Clarke Schmidt’s season-ending injury.

Let’s focus on the bullpen for a moment. Though relievers are plentiful at every deadline, it’s not easy to find true game-changers, particularly for more than half a season.

So if the Yankees can find themselves a closer of the future, they might be wise to pay a premium to do it.

On Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic named one such pitcher the Yankees might have a shot at acquiring: Athletics fireballer Mason Miller. However, he also noted that the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers would be potential rivals in the bidding war.

“The way the A’s see it, only a few teams are bold enough to propose an offer for Miller worthy of consideration. General manager David Forst might engage those teams as the deadline nears. But for now, he appears willing to let them grow more desperate,” wrote Rosenthal.

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“Which teams might tempt the A’s? The Philadelphia Phillies, who reached agreement Sunday with free-agent reliever David Robertson, probably would be No. 1 on the list. The Los Angeles Dodgers, with free agents Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates performing below expectations, almost certainly would be in the mix. So would the New York Yankees, who face the losses of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to free agency.”

Miller, 26, has a 4.05 ERA this season, but don’t let that fool you. He’s got a 2.87 FIP, suggesting that he’s been somewhat unlucky, and his gaudy 40.1 percent strikeout rate makes it clear that few hitters can touch his electric stuff.

The Yankees would have to be prepared to part with multiple top prospects to get a deal done, but it might be worth doing so to have Miller locked in for the next 4 1/2 years.

More MLB: Mets predicted to acquire pair of relievers, including two-time All-Star