This possible Yankees trade target sounds like he'd fit right in

Potential Yankees trade target Michael Fulmer got high praise from ex-teammate and friend Chad Green on Friday.

BALTIMORE — Before last year’s trade deadline, the Yankees made pushes for several starting pitchers before landing Sonny Gray from the Athletics.

One of them — Tigers righty Michael Fulmer — could end up a target once again as general manager Brian Cashman considers bolstering the Yankees’ rotation.

On Friday, reliever Chad Green — one of Fulmer’s friends and former minor-league teammates — made it sound like Fulmer would fit well in pinstripes.

“He’s evolved into a three-pitch guy that can be a top-of-the-(line) rotation arm and that’s what you’ve seen in Detroit,” Green said before the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.

He added that Fulmer is a “great guy.”

“He just competes,” Green said. “You see that today when he pitches.”

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The Tigers finished Friday 3 1/2 games back of the Indians in the American League Central.

If they’re this close to a division crown come the July 31 deadline, there’s no guarantee they’ll look to be sellers and deal Fulmer anywhere.

Still, Detroit will once again have to think long and hard about trading Fulmer, a 25-year-old who won’t be a free agent until 2023, because of the kind of return he could bring — provided he turns things around.

After posting a 3.45 ERA in 51 starts over his first two big-league seasons, he’s just 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA in 11 starts in 2018.

Green, then also a starting pitcher, and Fulmer played together at Double-A in 2015 after a trade with the Mets that sent Yoenis Cespedes to Queen brought Fulmer to the Tigers.

Green and Fulmer were on the same team just a month but the pair formed a quick bond and are still good friends who text now and then and catch up whenever they play each other, Green said.

“He’s just always on the attack,” Green said. “As soon as he steps on the mound — you see a demeanor about guys. He’s one of those guys that, when a batter gets in the box, he feels defensive already and (Fulmer) hasn’t even thrown a pitch. That’s the first thing. He just attacks guys from the very first pitch.”

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