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UPDATE (12:43 PM): The Yankees might have to explore other options, as there hasn't been any movement on Kimbrel today.
More on Kimbrel: Now told #Yankees’ talks for him broke down yesterday and have not revived today. #Marlins’ Capps an option, as others say.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2015
UPDATE -- The Yankees and Padres worked overnight on a deal that is expected to send Craig Kimbrel to New York, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. Our Chris Cotillo reports that the Padres are also discussing Kimbrel with the Astros.
#Padres, #Yankees worked overnight on deal to send Craig Kimbrel to NY. #Astros also in on Kimbrel. More to come at http://t.co/gtnhE8jsM2
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 31, 2015
If the Yankees are unable to acquire Kimbrel, they will likely turn to the Marlins and work on a deal for Carter Capps, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com.
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ORIGINAL: The New York Yankees have been fairly quiet in the rumor department this trade deadline season, but in the last few days they've been connected to some players left on the market. As of now, with under 17 hours left to make a deal, it seems that Craig Kimbrel has become their top target, according to Jon Heyman.
"The Yankees have expressed a willingness to pay all of the $28 million remaining through 2017 on Kimbrel's deal, but it isn't known what they are offering in the way of players. They declined to surrender shortstop prospect Jorge Mateo, as was already reported on CBSSports.com"
Adding Kimbrel to a bullpen that already consists of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller would rival, and potentially surpass the dominance of Kansas City's three headed monster that emerged during the 2014 season. If Kimbrel was added, the Yankees would have three late inning options who all have K/9 rates of at least 12.58, with Betances and Miller possessing ratios above 14 strikeouts per nine innings.
Heyman also notes that,
"some believe the Astros may be making a stealth try for Kimbrel after landing two startrers and an outfielder already, and several Astros-connected people suggested interest in such an endeavor, but their involvement is uncertain at this time."
A.J. Preller has been surprisingly quiet in his first deadline as GM, but as noted earlier, he now has an extraordinary amount of leverage heading into the final hours, and he could still pull off a flurry of moves.