MLB trade rumors: Why this other Yankees target on Orioles ‘would fit great’

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has shown interest in Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman as the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline approaches, and his high school teammate, first baseman Greg Bird says …

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CLEVELAND — Yankees first baseman Greg Bird and Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman played together at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo. They’ve been close friends ever since.

“I secretly always, deep down, hope we get him,” Bird said before Thursday’s game against the Indians at Progressive Field. 

That might not be too far-fetched.

While the Yankees’ interest in star Orioles shortstop Manny Machado has dominated headlines, general manager Brian Cashman has also talked to Baltimore about starting pitchers Dylan Bundy and Gausman, according to a report from the Baltimore Sun’s Eduardo Encina. 

Gausman, a hard-throwing 27-year-old righty, wouldn’t have a problem playing in the Bronx, Bird said.

“I think he would fit great into this, just knowing him,” Bird said, pointing to the clubhouse. “But there’s a lot of guys like that, honestly. Great guy, on and off the field. Very light. Very even keel. Just a good dude, always been like that.

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Bird continued, “I think he’s a diamond in the rough. I really do. That’s just what I think. I might be biased because I know him but it’s in there, for sure.”

Gausman, at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, has been a slight underachiever in the majors. Before the 2013 season, Baseball America tabbed Gausman as the 26th-best prospect in the minors. Before 2014, he had made it to No. 20.

But over but over parts of six big-league seasons, he’s posted a 4.20 ERA with a 38-50 record.

He fits the mold of what the Yankees typically seek in their starting pitchers, however. He strikes out a good amount of hitters (8.0 K/9) and has a 48 percent groundball rate.

The Yankees’ top priority, Cashman has said, has been to add starting pitching. Gausman could be a low-risk, high-reward proposition.

“I think at times it’s been really good,” Bird said. “We’ve seen it. People have seen it at times. I think that’s in there for a consistent longer stretch, too. 

“He’s just figure it out as he goes. That’s the good thing about it. It’s never, like, been panicked around me. He’s always going, just going. Which is good.”

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