Official: Yankees Trade Proposal Lands $14 Million Pitcher in 3-Player Swap

The New York Yankees hold a record of 60-43 and are just one and a half games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. Despite a recent 10-21 slump, the team has an opportunity to strengthen its roster at the trade deadline. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic suggested a trade that would bring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers to the Yankees.

Kirschner proposed the following trade:

– **Yankees receive**: right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty
– **Tigers receive**: right-handed pitcher Will Warren and outfielder Everson Pereira

Kirschner mentioned, “The Yankees could offer a package of starting pitcher Will Warren and outfielder Everson Pereira to the Tigers. Warren has struggled in Triple-A this season, and Pereira is out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training.”

Kirschner also highlighted that Warren was a candidate to make the Yankees out of spring training, and Pereira is one of the Yankees’ top prospects, ranked No. 7 and No. 5 respectively.

Flaherty Could Bolster the Yankees Rotation

Starting pitching has not been a significant issue for the Yankees, who currently hold the No. 5 ranked ERA for starting pitchers at 3.62 this season, and a team ERA of 3.55. Despite this, adding Flaherty could still enhance the rotation.

“Flaherty would immediately become the Yankees’ second-best pitcher behind Gerrit Cole. Flaherty is one of baseball’s top strikeout pitchers this season and excels at limiting base runners,” wrote Kirschner. “Acquiring Flaherty would allow the Yankees to move one of their current starters to the bullpen, such as Luis Gil, who has workload concerns.”

Cole made his season debut on June 19. In six starts, he has a 4.60 ERA, but has shown improvement in his last two outings, delivering back-to-back quality starts and striking out 15 over 12 innings.

In addition to Cole, the Yankees’ rotation includes Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodón, and Gil. Stroman and Gil lead this group with ERAs of 3.10 and 3.51, respectively. Flaherty, with a 3.13 ERA in 17 starts this season and 127 strikeouts, would top the Yankees in strikeouts.

Flaherty’s Trade Market

According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers don’t plan to trade Tarik Skubal unless they receive an exceptional offer. However, they do intend to trade Jack Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers in free agency. Since Flaherty will be a free agent again this offseason, the Tigers are looking to get whatever return they can for him.

“Flaherty is having a great comeback season, going 7-5 with a 3.13 ERA over 17 starts. The 28-year-old is healthy and pitching like he did during his best years with St. Louis,” wrote Jim Bowden of The Athletic. “The Tigers should be able to get a top-seven prospect from an average farm system, or two top-15 prospects for him. Flaherty is eligible for free agency after this season.”

On July 9, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that the team is “open-minded to a lot of different things” ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. While adding Flaherty won’t directly address the Yankees’ struggling offense, it could be beneficial come October.

“A possible playoff rotation with Cole and Flaherty at the top would be one of the best in the American League,” wrote Kirschner.