The New York Yankees have their eyes set on trading reliever Andrew Miller. But the asking price might be a little to high.
ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that the Yankees are “fully expected” to trade both Aroldis Chapman and Miller before the deadline hits. Chapman is in the last year of his deal as he was acquired by trade from Cincinnati in the offseason.
Miller will be owed $9M for two years after this season but both are pretty damn good out of the pen.
The Cubs have reportedly been in talks with the Yankees for both bullpen pitchers, but a deal would likely be centered around Kyle Schwarber. Olney includes in his report that the Yankees are set to offer Miller for Schwarber straight up and will move on if the Cubs say no:
One evaluator with knowledge of the Yankees’ interest fully expects that the team will tell the Cubs that if they want Miller, they will have to part with young hitter Kyle Schwarber — and if the Cubs say no, the Yankees can simply move on to conversations with other contenders who are interested in the left-hander. The Yankees are in position to run an extreme seller’s market with Miller, a difference-making reliever: Since the start of 2014, Miller has struck out 276 of the 639 batters he has faced in the regular season and playoffs, allowing just 85 hits and 41 walks in 166 innings.
The Cubs drastically need help in the bullpen as it’s struggled the past month. Both Miller and Chapman would be a major upgrade but acquiring them would cost the Cubs prospects.
Miller has a 1.34 ERA and has struck out 60 in 33.2 innings pitched this season. Meanwhile, the flamethrower Chapman has recorded 15 saves, struck out 31 batters and has an ERA of 3.64 in 20 innings pitched.
This year’s MLB Trade Deadline is on August 1st and you can guarantee that the talks for bullpen help with the Cubs will heat up.
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