The New York Yankees are expected to shop for a starting pitcher before the MLB trade deadline on July 31 in hopes of improving their post-season chances this year.

The Yankees acquired third baseman Chase Headley in a trade that sent Yangervis Solarte and minor league pitcher Rafael De Paula to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

Headley, who is batting .229 with seven homeruns and 32 RBIs this season, could boost the Yankees' offense, but the acquisition did not solve their starting rotation woes.

The Yankees are playing without starters CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Masahiro Tanaka, and Ivan Nova. Yankees star pitcher Sabathia could miss the remainder of the season due to knee problems, while Nova is already out this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

According to Sports Illustrated's FanSided, the Yankees are still very interested in acquiring Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee -- two hurlers that are expected to be dealt before the deadline.

Price, who is 10-7 this season with 173 strikeouts and a 3.06 ERA, is the biggest name on the trade market at this point with previous reports naming the Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Dodgers as the most likely landing spot for the left hander.

The Yankees are still in the race, but their chances remain slim at this point considering the fact that the Rays are not expected to trade their ace pitcher to an American League East rival.

Price could turn the Yankees' fortunes around this season, but they will have to create a highly attractive trade package in order to have a chance of acquiring the 28-year-old pitcher.

According to FanSided, the Rays might be interested in a trade package involving top prospects Luis Severino and Aaron Judge along with either Chase Whitley or Dellin Betances.

But if the Yankees fail to acquire Price, they are expected to go after Lee, who is 4-5 this season with 64 strikeouts and a 3.67 ERA in 11 starts this season.

However, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reported that Lee can decide what team he'll be traded to as his contract revealed that the Phillies can only trade him to nine teams without his consent, which means that he can block trade to 20 teams, which includes the Yankees.

"Cliff Lee's deal also includes a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block trades to 20 teams. According to a baseball source, Lee has listed Atlanta, Cleveland, Houston, Miami, Minnesota, the New York Mets, San Diego, Tampa Bay and Washington as the nine teams he can be traded to without his consent," Crasnick wrote.

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