MLB trade rumors: Why Yankees, Red Sox could chase the same starting pitchers

by Felix Pantaleón

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). Both Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi will be shopping for starting pitching. The Yankees begin play Tuesday with a half-game lead over the Red Sox in the American League East.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox begin play Tuesday separated by just a half-game in the American League East.

They own the two best records in baseball (the Yankees are 51-25, the Red Sox are 52-27).

They will battle for bragging rights this weekend with a three-game series in the Bronx.

Yanks’ 5 biggest problems

And it looks like they will be going after the same players before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

We already know Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is shopping for starting pitching, with injuries to Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery (we also know Cashman isn’t inclined to trade Gleyber Torres or Clint Frazier for a starter).

Now it turns out Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is also down a pair of starters.

Boston put knuckleballer Steven Wright on the disabled list Tuesday. He joins lefty Drew Pomeranz on the DL.

Retroactive to June 23. Wright had the same knee surgery as Dustin Pedroia. Rotation depth about to be major topic for Sox. https://t.co/KhqtHT7Fsy

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 26, 2018

The Red Sox still have three studs in their rotation: Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello.

And they still have glaring needs in the bullpen (not to mention in the bottom third of their starting lineup).

But Dombrowski will no doubt start shopping for a starter. Problem is, he doesn’t have much left in the cupboard to swap for an arm, unlike Cashman, who has a well-stocked minor league system. So if the Yankees make a run at Toronto Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ or Texas Rangers southpaw Cole Hamels, they should have an advantage over the Red Sox.

Left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez and CC Sabathia are scheduled to start the Red Sox-Yankees series opener on Friday. Sonny Gray and Sale will follow on Saturday. 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.