The Yankees and Astros have spent most of this season viewed as the best teams in the AL. And they have similarities going into the trade deadline.
They badly want to add to their rotations, though they will fall back to further stock strong pens if necessary. Their farm systems are down because of graduation to the majors, trades over the past few years and injuries and downturn in performance among key farmhands. That makes it more difficult to trade when both organizations already are frustrated by the asking prices and the lack of options, a group made smaller by the Mets obtaining Marcus Stroman, who interested both the Yankees and Astros.