The New York Yankees’ search for starting pitching continues to ramp up, and with the market moving, there seems to be a new target in Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera.
After some blockbuster deals this offseason, we’ll see if the Yankees have to move multiple top prospects to land Cabrera, but it feels like a deal will happen eventually.
Mark Powell of FanSided pitched a bold trade involving the Marlins and Cabrera, one that would cost a ton.
In Powell’s proposed deal, the Yankees would send a massive prospect package to Miami in outfielder Spencer Jones, right-hander Ben Hess, outfielder Dillon Lewis, and shortstop Roderick Arias.
This would be a ton to give up, but business isn’t cheap for an arm of Cabrera’s caliber.
Powell explained why he thinks the prices are as high as they are.
“The Baltimore Orioles didn’t do the Yankees or any team interested in adding starting pitching any favors when they traded a haul to the Tampa Bay Rays for Shane Baz,” Powell wrote. “No offense to Baz, but he is not worth four top-30 prospects and a competitive balance pick as the cherry on top. However, he is a mid-tier starting pitcher with plenty of contractual control. That speaks volumes about this market, as contenders would rather deal from their prospect cupboard than spend top dollar for Framber Valdez, or another available starting pitcher.”
Cabrera fits into the same pitcher Powell described, as he’s an above-average starter with upside and control, but not a true ace.
However, in this market, pitchers are going for historical packages.
From the Yankees’ perspective, Spencer Jones alone is a big piece of the future, and pairing him with Arias and multiple arms is a big deal. However, while the Yankees are trying to win, they also don’t want to completely empty the farm system, at least from what Brian Cashman and others have made it seem like.
On the other hand, Cabrera checks what the Yankees need without making a ridiculous financial commitment. He’d be a great pickup, but will probably be one of the final moves of the offseason for the Yankees, if it happens.