The Yankees are working on a Jose Quintana trade, unless they’re not

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The Yankees are trying to trade for Jose Quintana. Well, depending on who you ask, anyway. Bob Nightengale reported that the Yankees were working on a deal that also included White Sox closer David Robertson, and also that the Pirates were involved in what could be a potential three-team deal to guarantee the White Sox get everything they want in return for their two trade chips. This makes a lot of sense for New York, considering Robertson would help them in their attempt to rebuild the bullpen they dealt away at the trade deadline, and that by taking on most of Robertson’s salary, they could get a discount for Quintana — one that maybe would allow them to avoid dealing Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier, a pair of prospects it was reported earlier in the week they don’t want to part with to get Quintana.

Making sense doesn’t mean this is reality, however. Joel Sherman reports that the Yankees are not currently working on a deal that involves Quintana and Robertson. So, the possibilities: the Yankees were working on such a deal at one point, have discussed the possibility of discussing such a deal, or Sherman’s people are wrong and Nightengale’s are right. It’s likely the former, given MLB.com is also hearing that interest in Robertson has been overblown, but if the Yankees aren’t interested in bringing in Robertson and they don’t want to move top prospects for Quintana — who is under contract for four years, one more than former teammate and already traded starter Chris Sale — then New York isn’t likely to get him, either.

It’s a bit of a shame to hear this if you’re a Yankees fan, given their rotation needs and Quintana’s ridiculously team-friendly contract that will only pay him $37.85 million over the next four years. This is exactly the kind of arm a team trying to reload should be going for, as sure, he’ll cost New York prospects, but he’ll also be around four seasons to lead their rotation — he’s not a rental, he’s not a one-year guy they’ll get a draft pick back for when he leaves. He’s a perfect complement to their current roster and setup, and if the Yankees aren’t exploring a deal for him as Sherman reports, then they probably should start doing what Nightengale is hearing.