One rival official, talking about the trade market on Friday, said, "Sounds like the Yankees are shopping everyone." Another concurred, adding, "With the exception of (Luis) Severino."
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he does not anticipate trading any of his three top young players -- pitcher Severino, first baseman Greg Bird or outfielder Aaron Judge. But the GM acknowledged that he was being aggressive and creative in his early discussions.
"I'm open to anything," Cashman said. "I'm always open to anything. I'm not afraid."
Cashman, if you recall, made five trades by Jan. 1 last offseason, acquiring shortstop Didi Gregorius, right-hander Nate Eovaldi and reliever Chasen Shreve, among others.
The Yankees did not necessarily intend to part with players such as right-hander Shane Greene, infielder Martin Prado and left-hander Manuel Banuelos in those trades, Cashman said. But that is how the deals developed.
"You have to be pretty aggressive and open to trade a good young pitcher under team control (Greene), a left-handed prospect (Banuelos) or a guy like Prado who fits you like a glove," Cashman said.
"We still are. If we can find matches to make us better as we go forward, we're all ears."
Even on the top prospects?
"I don't anticipate Severino, Bird and Judge being traded -- I don't see that happening," Cashman said. "But I'm open to having dialogue, no matter what. Dialogue is a good thing."
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