The New York Yankees are having a good start this season, but they have been hit by injuries that have forced them to tweak their roster, particularly their starting rotation.
Reports indicated that the Yankees will look for pitching help before the MLB trade deadline, and the Boston Globe reported that the team might target Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee.
The Yankees lost starting pitcher Ivan Nova for the rest of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Michael Pineda remains out with strained back muscle, while CC Sabathia might undergo mid-season surgery in his knee.
According to reports, owner Hal Steinbrenner is determined to buy pitching before the deadline, and Lee is one of the top targets. However, the Boston Globe noted that a Lee-to-Yankees deal will only be possible if the Phillies fall out of the race.
"The Yankees could buy pitching before the trade deadline, given they've already lost three starters to injuries. Michael Pineda (lat) and CC Sabathia (knee) are expected back, but for the Yankees to compete over the long haul they must add a significant arm," Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo wrote. "Baseball executives think they'll have their eyes on Cliff Lee if the Phillies fall out of the race. Of course, that's a big if."
And if the Phillies, who are currently sitting fifth in the National League East with a 19-22 record, fall out of competition, the Yankees will not have a walk in the park when it comes to acquiring Lee.
The 35-year-old left hander, who is 4-4 this season with a 3.18 ERA, is expected to draw the interest of several teams if the Phillies put him on the block, and Cafardo mentioned the Boston Red Sox as another possible destination.
In order to acquire Lee, the Yankees will have to be more willing to give up talents, considering the fact that other teams, like the Red Sox, have a lot more to offer to the Phillies.
"The Yankees would have plenty of competition for Lee, perhaps even from the Red Sox, who have long coveted him, especially given his past relationship with John Farrell in the Cleveland organization. The Red Sox also have more to give than the Yankees in terms of prospects," Cafardo noted.
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