Chicago Cubs: 3 off-the-wall trade destinations for Javier Baez

Chicago Cubs: Off-the-wall Javier Baez destination #2: New York Yankees

Well, at least we know Baez looks good in pinstripes. New York has underperformed mightily in the first half of the season. A team that should be in the pennant race finds itself eight games back of Boston in the division.

With 73 games to play, the Yankees are 46-43 and can still have just as good a chance as anybody to come out of the AL East if they come out of the gate strong to begin the second half. First reported by ESPN, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been quite vocal with his frustrations along with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Yankees are indeed looking to buy before the deadline.

Currently with the second-highest payroll in the league behind only the Dodgers, the Yankees need to perform better or else they themselves could eventually look towards a fire sale of their own. Baez could provide a much-needed spark to a team struggling to play as well as they should be.

The 27-time World Series champions have always had a winning culture in the Bronx. It would be nice to snag Gleyber Torres back from NY. Torres debuted for the Yanks in 2018 as a top 5 prospect in MLB but is currently having a down year and could potentially be had for cheap.

We all know the Cubs have made trades with New York in the past, dealing Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren, Rashad Crawford and Billy McKinney for Aroldis Chapman in 2016, culminating in the first World Series title Cubs fans had witnessed in 108 years.

With the Yanks looking to buy at the deadline already a staggering eight games back, it would be safe to say that they will be aggressive. In that case, the Cubs will be in very good position to raise the price tag in a bidding war. If that is the case, Jed Hoyer will be all ears.