MLB rumors: How active are Yankees in trade talks?

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has reportedly been linked to potential trades involving the Indians and the Mariners and he said he’s been very busy at the 2018 MLB GM Meetings.

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CARLSBAD, Calif. — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he was tired.

It’d been a long few days for the man who runs the Yankees at the 2018 GM Meetings. He’d been all over the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, speaking with the representatives of free agents and other general managers looking to make deals.

“I’ve been having free agent meetings, as many as I possibly can, and I’ve been knocking off a lot of club discussions,” Cashman said. “So, yeah there’s a lot of players that are available. I think teams are more open-minded than ever. Just at least explore anything and everything. Tedious but exciting.”

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The Yankees reportedly had planned to meet with the Indians about a potential trade for pitchers Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco. They also are reportedly interested in Seattle’s James Paxton.

The Yankees are expected to be prioritizing adding starting pitching after whiffing on acquiring a rotation arm last offseason.

They re-signed veteran lefty CC Sabathia to a one-year, $8-million deal, but still have at least two rotation spots to fill behind him, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.

Cashman was asked if the early trade prices on starting pitchers were “astronomical” early into the offseason.

“Until I pull one down, they’re tough to get,” he said. “I went through last winter trying to get starting pitching as you all know. We got some in season and stuff. They’re not easy to get your hands on. They usually are costly acquisitions.”

He preached economic restraint, too.

“I just think we’re trying to make smart, efficient decisions in our player acquisition,” Cashman said, “whether it’s through the draft or the international amateur side, trade acquisitions, free agent signs or waiver claims. I just feel like we try to make sound, smart decisions and we take very careful steps.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.