Why Yankees’ Brian Cashman has more trade deadline options than Red Sox’s Dave Dombrowski

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are fighting for first place in the American League East and both will be looking to add pieces before the deadline. But Yankees GM Brian Cashman is in a better position to wheel and deal than Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

Either the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox will win the American League East this year. That’s pretty much a given as June gets ready to give way to July. And the race will come into focus on Friday, when the Red Sox visit Yankee Stadium for a three-game series in the Bronx.

The team which doesn’t win the division will almost certainly qualify as a wild card.

So with both clubs jockeying for playoff positioning, expect Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to be active before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

Ideal All-Star Game lineups

But when push comes to shove, the Yankees will be in a better position to wheel and deal, per Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

“I don’t think about whatever they have or don’t have,” Cashman said about the Red Sox’ ability to swing a key deal. “We feel we have a lot of players we’re excited about. Some will make it up here and some will be used as trade chips. Just because we’re viewed as having more than they do in certain areas, Dave Dombrowski is an expert trader. He’s made a number of deals that have put the Red Sox where they are.”

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Dombrowski used prospects to land Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel. But there isn’t much in the Red Sox farm system, so unless he’s willing to trade major league players, he’ll have to get creative in working a deadline deal.

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Cashman always looks to the present and future when making trades. In the offseason he walked away from a deal with the Pirates for Gerrit Cole because he felt Pittsburgh was asking for too much. He could find a way to obtain Rays lefty Blake Snell instead of Chris Archer, though he would certainly take Archer, who is currently on the disabled list. Cashman will likely be in the market for Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ. He would be more than willing to settle for the Rangers’ Cole Hamels, though he would prefer not to give up a top prospect or two for a 34-year-old pitcher.

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There have been reports that Cashman could even add another reliever, as if the Yankees bullpen isn’t strong enough. They have been linked to Brad Hand and Zach Britton, two lefties the Red Sox would love to have. The Yankees have the prospects to make it happen. The Red Sox would have to really reach to acquire either lefty, and if you’re the Padres or Orioles, you’d rather make a deal with a team that has an abundant number of prospects.

Southpaws Eduardo Rodriguez and CC Sabathia are scheduled to start the Red Sox-Yankees series opener on Friday. Sonny Gray and Chris Sale will follow on Saturday. David Price and Luis Severino will close out the series on “Sunday Night Baseball.“

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.