RAPID FIRE: YANKEES TRADE RUMORS

It's getting to be that time of year again, when the hot stove turns back on for about a month as all 30 teams around the league scramble to optimize their roster before the trade deadline. There's no secret as to what the Yankees are looking for: pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Ideally they would love to pick up both a starter and reliever to solidify the rotation and fill in for Joba. No need to search all over the Internet for the latest Yankees trade rumors, here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, we've got you covered. Here is the first round of rumors:
(Photo: Getty)

• Wandy Rodriguez: Wandy may not be the kind of half-season salary dump rental the Yankees are looking for, and he's on the wrong side of 30 years old, but Wandy would be the ideal guy to anchor a playoffs rotation. The left-handed Astros ace has pitched to the tune of an outstanding 3.21 ERA this season, thanks in part to a 2.50 ERA in the month of June. His record is 5-4, and frankly the fact that he's managed a winning record while backed by the piss poor Astros offense is a testament to his dominance. As I mentioned, he'd be anything but a rental; Wandy is signed through 2013 with a 2014 player option, but if the Yanks are looking for a long term investment and are willing to shop a good prospect or two, the Astros are definitely selling. Read it HERE.
  

• Hiroki Kuroda: Kuroda is more of the rental type the Bombers are looking for. Read about it HERE. He's signed for this season and is arbitration eligible in the off season should the Yankees seek to give him an extension. Despite an ugly 5-9 record, Kuroda has been one of the more dominant pitchers in the NL, holding a 3.10 ERA (the record can be blamed on the disaster that is the Dodgers... poor Donnie Baseball). I know what you're thinking: Kuroda's cheap, only signed through this year, and is definitely being shopped….so sign him up! The only issue is his full no-trade clause, but I wouldn't imagine he'd be against spending possibly one of his last seasons (he's 36 years old) in the hunt for his first World Series ring. Jonathan Broxton could potentially be a throw in with Kuroda to sweeten the pot a little, but given the disaster he's become I wouldn't exactly welcome him with open arms. But hey Kerry Wood wasn't on fire when we got him either...

(Photo: Getty)

• Carlos Beltran: This one is a bit puzzling. He's obviously not a pitcher, he's an outfielder, and our outfield is set with GGS. The idea was to maybe bring him on to replace Posada, but the DH problem is absolutely gone, as I wrote about earlier this month WHY HE'S STILL HERE. Swisher wasn't doing particularly well either but like Jorge, he has been blazing hot this month. The only option I see is to have him platoon with Jorge in the DH spot, but it'd be a little ridiculous to use two switch hitters in a platoon system. Beltran always wanted to be a Yankee, they just couldn't afford him before (I know, it sounds weird...), but I'm sorry to say I don't see him ever becoming one, unless he wants to be a backup for next year. Read about it HERE.
  

(Photo: Getty)

• Heath Bell: Bell has been one of the more dominant closers in the game since he took over Hoffman's old job in San Diego. In 2010 he logged 47 saves to go along with a glistening 1.93 ERA. He hasn't been much worse in 2011, recording a 2.61 ERA with 19 saves. He'd be more than sufficient as a replacement for Joba, I dare say he'd even be an improvement. However, he's a fan favorite in San Diego and he's made it very clear that he wants to stay there, so there would be some hard feelings about trading him. Nevertheless, baseball is a business, and if Bell could bring in a prospect or two to make the Padres future look less miserable, they'd be foolish not to. They're obviously sellers, when you are trailing the Dodgers, there's something wrong.
  

• Francisco Rodriguez: The better half of New York despises Francisco Rodriguez. He acts like he's won the World Series every time he records a save and has been sent to anger management. Still, there's no denying that he's one hell of a pitcher. K-Rod recently said that he would gladly accept a trade to the Yankees or Rays (a "contending team" as he said, backhanding the Mets). The Mets quickly followed up with a statement saying they are not looking to trade him, but come on, he's a free agent after this season and while the Mets aren't quite as awful as expected (39-39), they're in the NL East competing with the Phillies and Braves, so it seems unlikely that we'll see a Cinderella Story in the Queens. He's posted a decent 3.65 ERA and has 20 saves to his credit this season. Personally I'd explore other options, but if he's on the block, you know the Yankees will at least make an offer, serious or not.

Check back soon for more trade rumors.



--Grant Cederquist, BYB Staff Writer



--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor



Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.