Yankees trade rumors: New York asked the Cubs about Jake Arrieta

In their search for more pitching help, the Yankees have looked both high and low for any available arm that could improve their rotation. It turns out that Brian Cashman even asked the Cubs about Jake Arrieta, someone Chicago is very unlikely to trade any time soon, and if they did it would cost way more than the Yankees could likely afford.

Sources: Yankees have discussed Jake Arrieta. Told it would take an offer the Cubs could not refuse.

— George Ofman (@georgeofman) July 27, 2014

You see, Yankees fans might remember the Jake Arrieta that ended up being a huge disappointment for the Baltimore Orioles with a 5.23 ERA and 4.75 FIP between 2010 and 2013, but in Chicago he appears to be a changed man this year. In 2014, the 28-year-old right-hander has a 2.18 ERA and 2.10 FIP along with a career-best 9.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. It would appear that at least one of the pitchers expected to nail down the Oriole rotation for years has finally figured it all out in Chicago.

With Arrieta under team control through the 2017 season, Cashman likely wanted to gauge how much the Cubs valued him going forward. If they assumed he's simply having a career-year they'd want to get something for him before he turns back into a pumpkin, but if they believe he's going to keep this up over the years then they'd most likely want to hold onto him or at least get a huge return back. The Yankees likely don't have the package to pry Arrieta away from the Cubs, though it would likely start with both Luis Severino and Gary Sanchez. A deal is highly unlikely to happen, but this is just an example of Cashman trying everything possible. Eventually someone will be a match. Maybe.