Yankees Trade Rumors: Robbie Ray Among Potential Targets at Deadline

The New York Yankees have reportedly reached out to the Arizona Diamondbacks about pitcher Robbie Ray "in recent days," according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Morosi had written early last week that Ray was drawing interest from the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros. He also provided context to Ray's appeal:

"The increased demand for Ray can be explained by two key factors. Unlike Bumgarner, who would be a second-half rental, Ray carries value beyond the end of this year. Ray is eligible for free agency after the 2020 season. While concern persists over Ray's National League-most 56 walks, he strikes out 2.5 more batters per nine innings than Bumgarner (11.8 to 9.3)."

Ray has been in Arizona since 2015. This season, the 27-year-old southpaw leads the National League with 22 starts in which he has posted a 9-6 record, 3.95 ERA and 1.309 WHIP. 

Ray is not the only starting pitcher linked to the Yankees prior to MLB's July 31 trade deadline, however. 

On Friday, the Yankees had a "significant scouting presence" on hand in Detroit for Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman's start—again, per Morosi.

Meanwhile, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported earlier Tuesday that "few see" San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner being traded at the deadline now as the team had won 10 of its last 12 entering Tuesday night's matchup with the Chicago Cubs. 

Similarly, New York's odds of adding Mike Minor of the Texas Rangers to its rotation are also unlikely. From The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal: 

"The Yankees' top evaluator, vice president of baseball operations Tim Naehring, attended left-hander Mike Minor's two most recent starts for the Rangers, according to major-league sources. But while Minor is on the Yankees' list of potential acquisitions, the chances of his heading to New York do not appear especially good.

"Naehring and other Yankees scouts are assessing all of the available starting pitchers—Naehring, for example, previously checked out Indians righty Trevor Bauer in a start at Cincinnati. Minor, 31, also has the Yankees on his 10-team no-trade list, sources say, though it's unclear whether he included them for leverage or because he does not want to play in New York (the rest of his no-trade list is not known)."

While it is unclear where the help will be coming from, the Yankees' rotation has shown recently that help could be needed in New York to maximize their league's second-highest scoring offense during a postseason run. 

Monday night, CC Sabathia allowed six earned runs through four innings pitched in an 8-6 Yankees loss to the Minnesota Twins. Tuesday night was more of the same as Domingo German was chased after 3.2 innings pitched and eight runs allowed. 

The New York Post's George A. King III predicted that, should a deal get done to bring a new starter to the Yankees, German would likely be the one moved from the rotation to the bullpen because of Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton and J.A. Happ's collective lack of experience in relief.

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