New York Yankees: 3 Often-Rumored Trades That Just Won't Happen

The Yankees need pitching. Their rotation consists of ace C.C. Sabathia, Ivan Nova and then three question marks in A.J Burnett, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia.

The Yankees struck gold last year as they picked up both Garcia and Bartolo Colon as minor league signings and they ended up giving the Yankees a combined 311 innings with a 3.82 ERA.

Something like that won't happen again this year, so the Yankees might have to look at the trade market. Some trades are realistic but others are not.

James Shields

The Tampa Bay Rays appear to be looking to move James Shields but likely won't want to deal him within the division, especially to the New York Yankees.

The only time that the Yankees and the Rays matched up for a trade was in 2006 when the Yankees bought infielder Nick Green from Tampa Bay. 

The Yankees would have to deal a plethora of prospects, including Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances. 

It just won't happen.

Felix Hernandez

Nope. They Yankees will not trade for Felix Hernandez. I've heard it time and time again. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik will ask for every decent Yankees prospect and then some.

King Felix is a once in a generation pitcher and maybe a year ago this trade could have happened. Now the Mariners have a bunch of pitching prospects coming up and they want to contend. By trading away Hernandez, it will slow them down.

Plus, they are in on free-agent slugger Prince Fielder, which will move them one step closer to contention and one step farther from trading their ace.

Tim Lincecum

First of all, the Giants are just two years removed from winning the World Series. That should tell you that they're not rebuilding. Timmy is the face of their franchise and they won't trade a guy like him.

Counterpart Matt Cain will most likely get a contract extension, as will Lincecum himself. The Giants are a big bat or two away from contending again and they might even sign Carlos Beltran back.