Yankees interested in acquiring Steven Matz

The Yankees have reached out to the Mets to gauge the availability of Steven Matz, according to the New York Post. With injuries to Luis Severino and James Paxton, as well as the continued suspension of Domingo German, the Yankees’ starting staff is not exactly in great shape.

Matz’s role on the 2020 Mets is still somewhat unknown. While he has been primarily a starter over his career, the Mets have six starting pitchers to fit into five slots come Opening Day. With new additions Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha competing with Matz, there have been a number of potential time-sharing situations, from using an opener to having Matz and Wacha piggyback on starts.

The Post reports that the Mets would be looking for a return that could slot directly into the big league roster. Miguel Andujar was a name floated as a potential return, but that seems like an awfully big return for a pitcher who has been solid, if unspectacular, over his five year career.

Matz, who started 30 games and pitched 160 innings for the Mets in 2019, looked sharp in his most recent Grapefruit League start, sitting 95 mph and giving up just one hit in two innings of work against the Astros on Saturday.