MLB.com writer Mark Feinsand revealed this afternoon that the Yankees have expressed an interest in trading for the Mets’ Lucas Duda and Addison Reed:
Source: Yankees have reached out to Mets about both Lucas Duda and Addison Reed. Story coming soon on MLB .com.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 18, 2017
Jason detailed the possibility of a Yankees-Mets swap last week, and it appears that the Yankees front office is not adverse to the idea of a crosstown trade. After the Cubs and White Sox deal for Jose Quintana, the idea of a trade not happening just because two teams share a city seems to be overcome.
Duda, the 31-year-old first baseman, has a triple slash of .248/.355/.550 with 16 home runs in 2017, good for a 135 wRC+. The left-handed hitting Duda would immediately shore up first base and provide welcome production for the most notable hole in the Yankee lineup. There is an injury risk with Duda, but that may lower his price, and should he stay healthy his left-handed swing would play well at Yankee Stadium.
Closer Addison Reed is following up a career year in 2016 with another solid season, posting his best walk rate yet with a 2.47 ERA and 2.91 FIP. He has an OPS allowed of just .654 against left handed batters in 2017, with no real platoon advantage, which would add depth to the bullpen in lieu of a shutdown LOOGY .
Both players are free agents at the end of the season, increasing the pressure on the Mets and Sandy Alderson to get something of value for them both.