Yankees Urged To Avoid Trade For $21 Million Pitcher Ahead Of Deadline

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Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge of professional baseball and all things that come with it after working closely with the sport for years. Zach has been with Newsweek since November 2024 and previously worked at FanSided and OnSI. He is a graduate of Bethany College (WV). You can get in touch with Zach by emailing z.pressnell@newsweek.com.

Zach Pressnell

Contributing Sports Writer

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The New York Yankees are in desperate need of a starting pitcher in the coming weeks. There are a lot of names expected to hit the market, and the Yankees will likely look to add one or two of the top names before the trade deadline.

While there are good names on the market that the Yankees should target, there are also players to avoid on the trade block.

FanSided’s Rucker Haringey recently urged the Yankees to avoid a trade for Cincinnati Reds veteran Nick Martinez. Martinez is on a one-year deal worth $21 million this season.

“Nick Martinez makes this list of trade targets to avoid as one of a grab bag of mediocre starting pitchers that will likely be moved in the coming weeks,” Haringey wrote. “The problem with Martinez is that he’s strictly a rental who is making over $21 million this season in Cincinnati.

“He’s been a reasonably reliable starter for the Reds this year but he doesn’t project to be a difference-maker in the postseason. The Yankees should be aiming higher than just landing an innings-eater that can help their rotation limp into the postseason.”

Martinez would be an upgrade for the Yankees, but he’s not the level of starting pitcher that would help lead the Bronx Bombers to the World Series. In fact, he’d likely have to be moved to the bullpen during the postseason run if the Yankees acquired him.

But Martinez’s willingness and flexibility to slot in as a bullpen arm could make him valuable enough to justify a deal.

The Reds will soon return Rhett Lowder and Hunter Greene to the big league mound, which could make the expiring Martinez expendable. Acquiring him wouldn’t be the issue for the Yankees. It would come down to whether the Yankees believe he can help the team down the stretch.

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