ESPN: Yankees officially acquire a $24 million Arizona Diamondbacks veteran star.
The top spot Injuries are mostly to blame for the New York Yankees’ far from flawless record. The Yankees must put those injuries behind them and do everything in their power to acquire a third baseman and an ace-caliber arm before the deadline if they hope to win a World Series.
Merrill Kelly of the Arizona Diamondbacks ought to be at the top of the list of players the Yankees would be interested in.
In the crowded National League West, the Diamondbacks, who were predicted to be a little stronger going into the season, are in a bad spot. With the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants performing as well as they have, the Diamondbacks will eventually opt to sell. They are now 7.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are in first place.
Although Kelly isn’t an ace-caliber arm, Empire Sports stated that he might develop into a very solid pitcher for the Yankees when looking at possible trade possibilities in Major League Baseball.
Merrill Kelly is still a capable starting pitcher who might take the field in a playoff series, despite not being the frontline starter he was during Arizona’s unlikely journey to the World Series in 2023.
Although Luis Gil could surpass him, there’s no guarantee that he’ll come back and play as well as he did the previous season. Ryan Garcia stated, “Kelly is a solid Game 3 starter on a contender, and the Yankees could have the veteran change his pitch usage a little to make him even better.”
At the trade deadline, the Yankees want to act aggressively.
It’s very clear what the New York Yankees will do when the trade deadline comes around. Joel Sherman of the New York Post said that the Yankees are certain to sign a starter, stating that if he is sure in anything, it is that New York would expand its starting rotation.
Sherman remarked, “The one thing I feel fairly comfortable and confident about is that they’ll acquire a starting pitcher.” What precisely is offered in the market is the next question.
In relation to trading off starting pitchers, he continued, “Teams don’t want to concede, and there are some teams that are very much all-in, teetering teams who don’t want to do it.”
It’s nearly difficult for the Yankees to find a pitcher of Gerrit Cole’s level with him out for the rest of the season. But with a 3.78 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 69.0 innings, Kelly has been outstanding.
Diamondbacks Are Anticipated to Sell
There’s a good chance the New York Yankees will also have a chance to deal for Kelly.
Kelly should be available if the Diamondbacks keep playing the way they have, according to Ken Rosenthal. The right-hander is a desirable target for competing clubs like the Yankees since he will be available on the free agency market at the end of the season.
“I believe they’re considering becoming a seller if Burnes is not available,” Rosenthal stated. And to whom must they sell? Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen are also possible free agents.
At the conclusion of the season, the Yankees may lose him for nothing, but they want to win a World Series, and Kelly would help them do that.
