FanPost

Could the Mariners’ injury woes create an opportunity for the Yankees?

ESPN among others have reported that Hisashi Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker are unlikely to be healthy to open the season. Scott Baker and Randy Wolf are in the Mariners camp with minor league deals and now have a chance to make their rotation. Baker through 15 innings in 2103 and Wolf didn’t play at all. Could their pitching situation spur them to consider trading Dustin Ackley or Nick Franklin?

The only depth the Yankees have is cheap, cost-controlled back of the rotation pitchers. Normally, those players aren’t good enough to acquire a young cost controlled middle infielder. However, given the Mariners needs, might Phelps or Warren be more interesting now than over the winter? The Mariners really don’t want to get far behind Oakland or give the Angels or Rangers a chance to start fast.

Perhaps Phelps and Warren aren’t enough to get Franklin, perhaps one could be dealt for a young prospect who will either help at the trade deadline or down the road in pinstripes. The 40-man roster is full already and some non-roster infield and relief help might be the best choices for the 25-man roster. Thus a trade now for a non 40-man prospect would probably save the Yankees a player as well.

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