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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees are discussing a possible deal that would send closer Andrew Miller to the Houston Astros or Los Angeles Dodgers. Brian Cashman is actively working the trade market, and he has already acquired Aaron Hicks and Starlin Castro for John Ryan Murphy, Adam Warren, and Brendan Ryan from the Cubs and Twins. The goal this offseason is the same as last offseason: get younger, get cheaper, and provide more upside. The two most trade-able contracts are that of Miller and Brett Gardner, and it's pretty clear both will be actively shopped for the same archetype of player.
There's renewed interest in Miller, more so than Gardner, and it makes sense. Considering the recent domestic violence allegations that have surfaced in regards to Aroldis Chapman, teams have shifted their focus to Miller, whose makeup is highly regarded, and he's on a friendly contract that owes him just $27 million over the next three years. Miller had a 194 ERA+ and 100 strikeouts in 61.2 innings in 2015, and he projects for similar value next season.
The Yankees will try to coax young players from either team, albeit I don't know who the Dodgers have to offer that can be done with just Miller involved. They have Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson, but again, that would require other substantial pieces. The Astros, though, would be a perfect trade partner. They have a bevy of young pitching--Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers, and Vincent Velasquez immediately come to mind, and rumors have already surfaced in the past that Cashman was trying to pick up Velasquez so he could be flipped for Marcell Ozuna. If that were to happen, that would open the door for a Brett Gardner trade, who could then net, hopefully, another young pitcher.
This is all pure speculation, but suffice it to say that the front office is trying its darnedest to leverage the favorable contract of Miller for young, controllable talent. I'm pretty hesitant about trading out of the bullpen depth considering the recent loss of Adam Warren, but it'd certainly be worth it if it ended up bringing back Velasquez or Ozuna. The hot stove is smoking and changes in a flash, so stay tuned.