MLB trade rumors: Imagining Yankees-Giants Madison Bumgarner deal

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is shopping for starting pitching on the free agency market, which features Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin, Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel and former Yankee J.A. Happ. Could Cashman pry left-hander Madison Bumgarner from the San Francisco Giants? Here’s what a potential Yankees-Giants trade could look like.

On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported on why the San Francisco Giants are unlikely to trade ace Madison Bumgarner.

But that hasn’t stopped the hot stove from heating up with Bumgarner trade rumors.

Bleacher Report imagined what a potential Bumgarner trade would take for five teams: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.

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Here is what a Yankees-Giants trade for Bumgarner might look like:

The New York Yankees need starting pitching. In their American League Division Series loss to the Boston Red Sox, no Yankees starter threw more than five innings, and other than Masahiro Tanaka, no starter recorded more than nine outs.

Despite setting a single-season record for team home runs (267), the Yanks were sitting at home when the Red Sox won the pennant and then bathed in World Series champagne.

That simply won’t do in the Bronx.

New York could spend on the free-agent market and sign an ace such as (Patrick) Corbin. Or it could pick up the phone and call San Francisco.

If the Giants are listening, the Yankees could put together a package built on left-hander Justus Sheffield and right-hander Domingo Acevedo. It would be a steep price to pay. Sheffield was largely dominant in Double-A and Triple-A in 2018 and made his big league debut. Acevedo needs more polish, but his fastball touches triple digits.

Bumgarner, however, is the postseason horse the Yankees lacked last season. Tether him to that offense, and look out.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.