Yankees could have their eye on bringing Chad Green back to the Bronx

TORONTO — It's no secret that before next month’s trade deadline, the Yankees will be in the market for a lockdown reliever, one who can handle the heat that comes with pitching in New York.

The last-place Blue Jays, trying to avoid being a seller at the deadline but still closer to that end of the spectrum than in the buyer category, happen to have one who fits the bill.

It's a pitcher the Yankees know well.

Chad Green.

The righthander, who posted a 3.17 ERA with the Yankees from 2016-22 — including a 2.96 ERA the last six of those seasons —  will be a desired piece if Toronto does sell. And Green, though very much enjoying his time with the Blue Jays, knows that won’t be up to him.

“I wouldn’t close the door on anything, honestly,” Green told Newsday in the Blue Jays' clubhouse before Friday night’s game. “But it’s not my choice. It’s not like I have trade clauses in my contract or anything like that. All of that stuff’s kind of out of my control. I love it here, I love everything about this organization. Obviously, if we play well enough, I honestly believe we can turn it around. We’ve dug ourselves a deep hole, but I’m not going to close the door on anything, either.”

Green, 33, who underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent in January 2023, had a 5.25 ERA in 12 games last season. Though sidelined April 17-May 27 of this season with a right teres major strain, he has looked far more like the peak Green the Yankees saw for much of his time with them, posting a 1.53 ERA in 18 games.

“It ended on a sour note, not the way I wanted to end it,” Green said of his Yankees tenure, which  came to a close with him on the injured list recovering from Tommy John surgery. “But it’s where I got my first opportunity, so I’m always grateful for that. Grateful for what they did for me and how they developed my career and the people I met over there.”

Green, still in touch with former bullpen mates Tommy Kahnle and Clay Holmes, said he always liked the spotlight that came with being a Yankee.

“Every game matters, I think that’s the biggest thing, and it’s always like a sold-out crowd,” Green said. “You’re always trying to win every game; there’s not a game you show up and are like ‘we’re happy with just won the series’ or something like that. You enjoy the pressure a little bit. The games matter. It’s a lot more fun when you play a 162-game season like that.”

The Blue Jays, expected to be a playoff contender before the season, came into Friday night 37-43 after beating the Yankees, 9-2, on Thursday night.  Before that, Toronto had lost 10 of its last 14 and recently snapped a seven-game losing streak.

If Toronto does sell, a healthy Green could be a target for any club looking for bullpen help, a group that includes far more teams than just the Yankees.

Choosing to trade within the division — especially to the Yankees — is a long shot for the Blue Jays but not impossible.

Schmidt throwing

Aaron Boone said before Friday's game that Clarke Schmidt, on the IL since May 30 with a right lat strain, began his throwing program Monday and was scheduled to play catch again on Friday.