In sports, there are not a lot of trades between teams from the same city.
The New York Yankees need to fill some voids in their starting rotation, though, and they have begun talking to the New York Mets about a potential trade for Steven Matz, according to Mike Puma and Kevin Davidoff of the New York Post.
The Yankees have voids in their rotation to fill with Luis Severino out for the season, James Paxton out until at least May due to back surgery, and Domingo German suspended after violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. The Yankees presumably think Matz could fill one of those voids. However, there is skepticism that a deal could be reached. The Mets would want someone like Miguel Andujar in return, according to Puma and Davidoff. Additionally, the Yankees and Mets haven’t done any big business with each other in two decades.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, it is unlikely that talks will progress or anything will happen.
As NY Post reported there has been some contact between Mets and Yankees on Steven Matz. However, multiple sources say that there is no reason to think it will progress or that anything will happen there.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) March 2, 2020
Even if talks did progress, the Yankees don’t need Matz. The Bronx Bombers have Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ along with Jordan Montgomery, Clarke Schmidt, and Deivi Garcia as possible options to fill the voids. If the Yankees traded for Matz, he would be sent to the bullpen when Paxton and German return.
Another reason this trade won’t happen is Andujar, whom the Yankees won’t give up. If they did, Andujar wouldn’t be a good fit for the Mets. The Mets have Jeff McNeil at third base and Andujar couldn’t play in the outfield because they have a full outfield. Andujar hasn’t always been healthy, either, as he missed most of the 2019 season due to a torn labrum. The Mets might not want someone who was out for most of the season due to an injury.
While the Yankees have some voids to fill in their rotation, they will be fine without Steven Matz.
