The latest MLB trade rumors reports have the Tampa Bay Rays "definitely" moving David Price and now the Detroit Tigers appear to have traded for him, while the New York Yankees now have traded with the Red Sox for Stephen Drew.
The latest MLB trade rumors reports have the Tampa Bay Rays "definitely" moving David Price and the Mariners and Dodgers are in the lead, while the Yankees are looking at names like Josh Willingham, Marlon Byrd, Chris Denorfia and Alex Rios as options and this comes as many teams like the Marlins, Red Sox, Cardinals, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays are looking to make moves.
The NY Yankees are looking to trade at the MLB trading deadline this season and names like Josh Willingham, Alex Rios, Marlon Byrd, Ian Kennedy and AJ Burnett are potential targets for Brian Cashman as New York remains in the playoff race and this comes after they acquired Chase Headley and Brandon McCarthy already.
The Yankees are right in the thick of the division race and the AL Wild Card and the next month will be huge for the team as they try to stay in contention. According to Hardball Talk, the Yankees are looking at a number of hitters, including Rios and Byrd, while Willingham is considered to be the favorite target, as his contract is not out of this world. Willingham is on a $7 million salary this season and is a free agent after next year and that means the Yankees will not have to worry about him on the roster next season.
Byrd has an option and Rios has a bit of money on his deal and the Yankees know there isn't much beyond those names when it comes to hitters on the market. The Yankees have offensive issues as much as anyone else looking for bats in the league and they are fighting with the Mariners, Reds and Pirates as others that could be on the lookout for some offense. Willingham is having a solid season, while Byrd has been the most consistent and he has a nice amount of home runs for the Phillies, who are fading out in the NL East.
Rios is making $12 million this year and the Yankees would like to find a better option than Ichiro Suzuki to play in the outfield and he could be it. Willingham has been mediocre this season and is hitting .215 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI while playing in 56 games. Willingham is the cheapest of the options and Byrd comes in with an $8 million salary next season and a vesting option for the season after that. Willingham dealt with a wrist injury earlier in the season and he has power and one reason he has been lacking in that is playing at Target Field.
The Yankees have Carlos Beltran as well and while he has been heating up lately, he has missed time with injuries and the Yanks are looking to add some support to the lineup. Matt Kemp has been mentioned as another outfield option for teams, but the Yankees are not in that, as they are not looking to pay him over $100 million that he is still owed on deal. The Yankees and Mariners have both been dealing with offensive issues and now the trade deadline is the last chance for the teams to add a bat as they head into the back stretch of the playoff race.
