Report: Yankees turned down Hand trade; Padres wanted Andujar

The New York Yankees have made it clear for several months they're interested in acquiring pitching before the July 31 trade deadline, but it appears they won't give up too much of their future to do so.

Before Brad Hand was dealt to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, the Yankees were negotiating a deal with the San Diego Padres for the left-handed reliever, according to SNY's Andy Martino, whose major-league sources told him the deal stalled because the Padres asked for third baseman Miguel Andujar.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been adamant about keeping Andujar, who is constructing a fantastic first season in the big leagues (12 HRs, 39 RBIs, .805 OPS).

"I think (Andujar) is a hell of a player," Cashman told Joel Sherman of the New York Post last week. "We have said 'no' to him (in trade talks) not just this year but from Double-A on up. I have not included him any deals and that should say how I feel about him.

"We have been challenged many times to move him or coerced to move him. He is here because of what we think of him. And I mean 'we.' His makeup is off the charts. His work ethic is off the charts. His energy is off the charts. And his physical ability is off the charts. He is a major contributor, which is what we thought he'd be," Cashman added.

While the Yankees own the best ERA of any bullpen in the majors (2.73), the addition of Hand might have been a solid backup plan to acquiring starting pitching, which has apparently been hard for Cashman to do because of exorbitant asking prices, Martino notes.

The 28-year-old Hand owned a 3.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 24 saves with the Padres before his trade, but had a shaky debut with the Indians on Friday, allowing a solo home run to Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers during his lone inning of work.