MLB trade rumors: Yankees’ other priority as Manny Machado hype grows

With talks of the Yankees possibly trading for Orioles star Manny Machado, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman …

Trading for starting pitching is still Yankees general manager Brian Cashman‘s top priority and he considers third base already “strength” with Manny Machado buzz swirling, according to a report from the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

The Yankees are deep at third base with young talent. Rookie Miguel Andujar, 23, has proven he’s an impact bat while still growing defensively. Brandon Drury, 25, was a steady second baseman for two seasons for the Diamondbacks before the Yankees acquired him early in spring training. The Yankees sent Drury to Triple-A on Monday.

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Andujar was hitting .279 with a .809 OPS and 12 home runs in 78 games, though his .309 on-base percentage isn’t very good. He’s got a rocket arm but lacks the range of most average third base defenders.

Drury is hitting .178 in 15 games — his big-league time this year brief due to blurred vision and headaches that led him to the disabled list and let Andujar jump him on the depth chart.

The Yankees, among other teams, have been engaged with Baltimore regarding Machado, a 26-year-old four-time All-Star who will be a free agent after this season.

Machado, one of the best young hitters in the league, would be an upgrade over both Andujar and Drury offensively. He moved back to shortstop, his preferred position, this season, but he hasn’t looked great there. Machado has said he wants to be a shortstop and that he doesn’t plan to go back to third base. That’s where the Yankees would almost definitely have to stick him, though, with Didi Gregorius clearly the superior defender at shortstop.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.