As the MLB trade deadline approaches in the coming weeks, I look at who makes sense for the New York Yankees. Obvious questions facing the team after the first half of the season point to the starting rotation and second base. Second baseman Rob Refsnyder made his MLB debut last Friday night in Boston. After collecting his first two major league hits including his first home run, there’s a pretty good chance he will stay with the Yankees, where Stephen Drew has struggled for average, but hit for power. A platoon makes sense, and Drew would be the defensive upgrade late in games.

The most pressing concern for the Yankees is the starting rotation. Led by Masahiro Tanaka (5-3, 3.63 ERA), Michael Pineda (9-5, 3.64 ERA), Ivan Nova (1-3, 3.42 ERA), and Nathan Eovaldi (9-2, 4.50 ERA) questions swirl around how long Tanaka’s arm will hold up, as he is still rounding into full form since coming off the DL early June. Pineda has shown the ability to be an ace pitcher in his own right. Then has had his struggles. Ivan Nova has looked impressive in his four starts since coming back from Tommy John surgery, and you most likely would not have expected Nathan Eovaldi would lead the team with nine wins. Eovaldi led the NL in hits given up last season and is currently third in that category in the AL.

Though there’s been the issue of inconsistency, it is a formidable group that has the potential to be very dangerous come October. You add another ace-potential type pitcher such as Jeff Samardzija to the mix, and the Yankees then boast among the best rotations in the AL. Samardzija (6-4, 4.02 ERA) is 30 years old, and a lot better than the overall numbers suggest. In Samardzija’s last three starts (6/28 at Detroit Tigers, 7/4 vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7/9 vs. Toronto Blue Jays), he is 1-0 having gone at least 7.1 innings each start. Coming off a complete game shutout last start, Samardzija hasn’t given up more than a run since he gave up four against Detroit June 28th. His last seven starts, he has pitched to the tune of 2-1, 3.10 ERA, 44 Ks/9 walks.

Samardzija also ensures the Yankees of depth down the stretch. A healthy staff led by Tanaka, Samardzija, Pineda is a nightmare for opposing lineups in a short series, and allows the Yankees to keep Adam Warren in the bullpen. Warren, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller closing out games just makes it that much tougher for opposing teams during a short series. CC Sabathia (4-8, 5.47 ERA) is nothing more than a fifth starter for the Yankees, and if salary wasn’t a factor, it’s unlikely he would even be filling out the rotation. Though he could continue to improve in the second half, anything he provides the rest of the year for the Yankees is an added bonus. It’s highly unlikely the Yankees could count on Sabathia for a critical game, let alone would want to for anything short of a few innings out of the bullpen.

Samardzija is a free agent at the end of the season, but doesn’t command the type of haul in prospects the Philadelphia Phillies would be seeking for a Cole Hamels trade this season. The Yankees have the makings to swing a trade, and I see Samardzija as a pitcher who could be the difference come October.

William Chase is a New York Yankees writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @William_Chase88 or add him to your network on LinkedIn and Google.