Slowly, but surely, time is running out on the Yankees to make a move this offseason. If they do try and pursue a move for Royals closer Joakim Soria, he would apparently be open to moving.
According to the Mexican paper Vanguard, Soria said he would not exercise his no-trade clause if the Royals and Yankees could work out a trade. Soria told the paper that he would actually be willing to play anywhere.
"I didn't put it there, my agent did, as a strategy," Soria said, as translated by MLBTradeRumors.com. "But if the Royals decide to trade me to New York I would gladly go to play with the Yankees or any other team. … I repeat, I would not block a trade to the Yankees. I like to play baseball and I would play with any team."
Soria has a limited no-trade clause which reportedly gives him the option to veto a trade to a handful of teams, the Yankees and Red Sox included.
According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, Yankees can't-miss catching prospect Jesus Montero has already been mentioned in talks for Soria.
The 26-year-old closer also said that he would prefer to stay in the bullpen, as opposed to making a move to the starting rotation an idea some have floated around. In four seasons as the Kansas City closer, Soria has averaged 33 saves per season. He also has a WHIP under 1.00 for his career and averages a hair under 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
