New York Yankees rumors: Could this Mariners pitcher be a trade option?

With the starting rotation shaved dangerously thin because of injuries, could the New York Yankees target a Seattle Mariners pitcher in a trade to help fill a void in the Bronx?

New York Yankees rumors: Could Seattle Mariners pitcher Chris Flexen be a trade target?

With Carlos Rodón (elbow strain) and Frankie Montas (recovery from surgery on his right labrum) both scheduled to begin the 2023 season on the injured list and Nestor Cortes Jr. nursing a hamstring injury that kept him out of the World Baseball Classic and could delay his progression toward being ready for Opening Day, there are clearly needs in the New York rotation as the regular season draws ever closer. Could the Yankees pull a trade with an American League team that also has aspirations of the postseason again this season? MLB insider Jon Heyman floated the idea on Friday on Twitter.

In its latest roster projection for the Mariners, FanGraphs projects the 28-year-old Flexen to start the season in the Seattle bullpen in a long relief role. Flexen served in a variety of roles in Seattle last season, appearing in 33 games with 22 starts and a pair of saves as well.

Flexen put up better numbers in a relief role last season, although in smaller quantities. In 121.0 innings as a starter, his ERA was 4.02 and WHIP was 1.372. As a reliever, over 16.2 innings, his ERA was 1.62 and WHIP was 1.020.

If New York were to make a trade offer for Flexen, it could come with a higher price tag as the right-hander isn’t scheduled to be a free agent until the 2027 season. Would the Yankees be willing to pay that price, and would Seattle be willing to send one of its young pitchers to an AL rival it could potentially meet in the postseason?

While it was an idea floated out on social media by Heyman, there have been rumors swirling for a while that the Yankees could look to make a trade for starting pitching. We’ll see if Brian Cashman decides to make a deal before New York opens the season at home against the San Francisco Giants on March 30.