Inbox: Which prospects will Yanks likely deal?

What prospects would the Yankees actually be willing to trade? Would they consider trading any young players on the Major League roster?
-- Anthony D., Nutley, N.J.

As the Yankees continue to seek starting pitching prior to Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, opponents have repeatedly asked for the best and brightest of the farm system. The organization is not as talent-rich as it was three or four years ago, at least at the upper levels, so it's difficult to envision the Yanks moving discussions off of No. 1 prospect Deivi Garcia.

The inclusion of Garcia's name doesn't necessarily kill negotiations, though for obvious reasons, general manager Brian Cashman is reluctant to unload the 20-year-old right-hander. Garcia is banging on the big league door, having jumped to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year.

"I wouldn’t say anybody is untouchable," Cashman said this past weekend. "I would just say some are more realistic than others. If you are going to play in certain waters, there is going to be only a smaller category of legitimate options that I would be interested in with certain guys."

Clint Frazier is thought to be available in exchange for a deal that quenches the Yankees' starting pitching thirst, and they'd probably entertain moving No. 2 prospect Estevan Florial as well. Both Frazier and Florial have bright futures, but the Yanks are well-stocked in the outfield and have a chance at a special season, so they might have to part with something that hurts.

Miguel Andujar could be an interesting trade chip, if the Yankees choose to include him. That would have been unthinkable a year ago, but Gio Urshela's emergence makes it something to discuss. Of the players on the current 25-man big league roster, it's easy to envision Tyler Wade's versatility intriguing an opponent as part of a larger package.

Do you think the Yankees would ever consider openers in the postseason? Having Luis Severino in the “bulk” role may be beneficial for the bullpen, and James Paxton's poor first innings are well-documented.
-- Noah B., Morristown, N.J.

I believe that anything could be on the table come postseason, and though it would certainly not be their preference to do so, it could work. Remember, a couple of years ago, Severino only gave them one out in the American League Wild Card Game and the Yankees were still able to piece it together from the bullpen to get past the Twins. They’re undefeated so far this year when using an opener.

"More often than not, it’s been because we've needed it," manager Aaron Boone said. "We’ve had a starter or something down a time through, and it’s kind of made some sense for us. It’s more out of need, I would say, but certainly something that’s been successful for us and something that could always be in play for us down the line."

While I don't see them using Chad Green in response to Paxton's first-inning bugaboo, Severino's situation promises to be interesting down the stretch. Assuming no further setbacks, will Severino have enough time to build up to, say, 75 pitches, or would he be more in the 40 to 50 range?

If it is the latter, then it could make more sense to deploy Severino out of the bullpen and use that electric stuff to get six to nine outs. That won't be Severino's preference -- he expects to be able to start in playoff games come October -- but at that point, it has to be about what is best for the team.

How high of an opinion do you think the Yankees have of Matthew Boyd compared to other starters on their radar?
-- Sam S., Gloversville, N.Y.

There is certainly interest there, which shouldn't be surprising -- the Yankees are pretty much interested in anyone who can throw a ball 60 feet and six inches. In the midst of a breakout season, the left-hander's name has repeatedly surfaced in reports connecting the Yanks and Tigers, who are (rightfully) asking for a significant return. Detroit is one of the clubs that has proposed a deal involving Gleyber Torres, which has been a non-starter.

What is the status of Greg Bird? Is there any timetable for his return?
-- Chris T., via e-mail

Bird reported to the Yankees' Player Development Complex in Tampa, Fla., during the first week of June for the next stage in his rehab from a torn left plantar fascia, and he's still there. It's a significant injury, so it has been slow going, though Bird has been able to hit, throw and run.

Considering his injury history, there appears to be little urgency in rushing Bird back, since first base belongs to Luke Voit and the Yanks also acquired Edwin Encarnacion after Bird's injury. Bird said that he hopes to return to the big leagues before September, but he added: "Usually, the time you spend down [on the injured list] is the time you spend coming back."

Do you think that the Mets would be willing to trade with the Yankees in any capacity?
-- Jason, via Twitter

Cashman has said that he is "fully engaged" with 28 teams, everyone except the Red Sox, though the general sense is that Mets ownership would attempt to exact a rich RFK Bridge toll in any trade that could be perceived as helping the Yankees grab newspaper back pages and potentially win a World Series.

That's why, even as Noah Syndergaard's future appears to be up in the air, it is considered a long shot to see Thor wear pinstripes. We saw that reluctance on the Mets' part a couple of years ago, as the Yanks pursued Jay Bruce and Neil Walker to bolster their 2017 postseason push, only to see the Mets opt to move both players elsewhere.

The Mets and Yankees did complete a minor deal in 2018, with outfielder L.J. Mazzilli moving from Queens to the Bronx in exchange for outfielder Kendall Coleman. Prior to that, the last cross-town transaction of any significance was the Dec. 3, 2004, swap that sent reliever Mike Stanton back to the Yanks in exchange for reliever Felix Heredia.