The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have similar needs ahead of the trade deadline, and both rivals are expected to be buyers.
The Yankees desperately need to add a third baseman, some bullpen help, and at least one starting pitcher. The Red Sox need a first baseman, some bullpen help, and a starting pitcher.
Because of these similar needs, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Sunday that the two rivals are both eyeing a pair of Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitchers ahead of the trade deadline.
“The Yankees and Red Sox, each looking for a starting pitcher, have sent scouts to watch Diamondbacks starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly in Phoenix, with the Yankees also keeping a close eye on third baseman Eugenio Suárez (32 homers, 80 RBI),” Nightengale wrote.
Both American League East rivals are chasing the Toronto Blue Jays in the division, so it should be expected that both clubs will be quite aggressive at the trade deadline.
Kelly and Gallen both sit on expiring contracts, but they’ve been vastly different pitchers this season.
Gallen has been the team’s ace for a while now, but he hasn’t pitched like it this year. In 20 starts, he has a 5.40 ERA, 4.80 FIP, and 1.37 WHIP, all marking single-season career highs for the righty.
Kelly has been great, though. He’s 8-5 with a 3.0 WAR and 3.34 ERA in 20 starts. The righty is projected to post a career-best WAR on the campaign and looks to be one of the better rental starting pitchers on the market.
These two clubs are bitter rivals on the field, but that rivalry will likely soon spill over to the trade market. It could get quite interesting if the Yankees and Red Sox continue to chase the same players.
