CRAZY IDEA: YANKS COULD SIGN A PITCHER & TRADE FOR ONE

I didn't expect that headline but I am seeing it everywhere. We've been talking about signing a pitcher on BYB a lot lately, but I did find an interesting little rumor floating out there. Would you think I was crazy if I told you there is speculation out there that the Yankees could not only sign a new pitcher, but ALSO trade for one, too?

Considering how mindful Hal Steinbrenner has been with the luxury tax for awhile now this certainly hasn't been a popular idea but SNY is floating an interesting idea HERE. It has to make you scratch your head even if it is just for a minute.

It's an interesting idea. One that may make more sense then we thought especially when you consider how conservative the Yankees are probably going to be in regards to Domingo German and his workload. I know I would be if I was calling the shots. The Yankees have been hit pretty hard this season with injuries as we all know. Position players got nailed first, and now so are pitchers.

If SNY sources are correct and the Yankees have "in the neighborhood" of $20 million before they exceed the second luxury tax bracket and are taxed again then maybe it could happen. We know the Yankees have exceeded the first tax bracket, but they could still make some moves without getting hit by a second tax.

One of those move could be adding Keuchel. I'm not in love with Dallas Keuchel, but if he is willing to take a one-year pro-rated deal it's not a bad move. A pro-rated $18 million contract would be about $12 million paid to him and that's not horrible. It's nowhere near what Keuchel's production is worth but it is still a nice chunk of change for him and additional insurance for the Yankees rotation.

So what about the trade idea too? Well if the Yankees are interested in a Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer or Zack Wheeler also it's a similar scenario. If the Yankees acquired a pitcher at the trade deadline they luxury tax hit would be less than half of the salary.

For a guy like Stroman that could be a bargain and great insurance. I would pull the trigger on that move in a heartbeat if the Blue Jays were willing to give him up. The Yankees should be interested in any of these guys.

When you break the numbers down the idea of signing a starter and trading for one also is appealing. Will the Yankees want to get this close to another tax? Maybe not. But if they want to win and need that extra push come July it could happen and if it works it would be money well spent.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj