MLB trade rumors: Reds’ Matt Harvey as Yankees pitching option?

by Felix Pantaleón

Ex-Mets ace Matt Harvey could be on the move from the Cincinnati Reds before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). Are the Yankees a trade deadline fit? General manager Brian Cashman is shopping for starting pitching, given the recent struggles of Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray.

This could be the ultimate nightmare for Mets fans.

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Matt Harvey, rejuvenated and healthy, taking the mound in October for the Yankees.

Likely? Probably not. Possible? Definitely.

As Harvey continues to pitch well and open eyes for the Cincinnati Reds, the NL Central cellar dwellers could market the soon-to-be free agent before the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline.

If the Yankees can’t land a top-shelf starter (or use assets to land a Manny Machado-type bat), perhaps Harvey could land in the Bronx as a back-end of the rotation upgrade.

MLB.com’s Richard Justice thinks so, naming the Yankees as a possible fit.

Wouldn’t it be something if this guy ended up being the hero of the postseason? After all Harvey has gone through, he is showing he’s far from done and potentially about to write a nice second chapter to his career (1.88 ERA with three walks and 18 strikeouts in his past 24 innings). Don’t even think of Harvey pitching for the Yankees in the postseason — heads would explode.

Possible fits: Yankees, Nationals, Dodgers, Brewers

For the season, Harvey owns a 4.80 ERA across 86.1 innings. But since landing with the Reds in an early-season trade from the Mets, Harvey has been much better (11 starts, 3.79 ERA, 3.38 SO/BB) and profiling like a pitcher that can help a contender.

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Harvey is set to hit the free-agent market after the season, and will be part of a star-studded class that includes Bryce Harper and Machado.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.