NEW YORK _ Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn't have any of the Big Three available in his bullpen on Sunday afternoon due to their recent heavy workload.
And he might not have Aroldis Chapman available to him much longer, period.
As their front office sorted through trade scenarios involving their flame-throwing closer, the Yankees rode starter Nathan Eovaldi's strong effort to a 5-2 interleague win against the Giants at the Stadium.
Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira each hit solo home runs and the Yankees (50-48) built a 5-0 lead with a three-run sixth inning. All the runs were charged to Giants starter Jeff Samardzija (9-6), who was knocked out after consecutive RBI hits by Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius (double).
Eovaldi (9-6) was charged with two runs in 6 2/3 innings. With the Yankees compromised bullpen situation, Eovaldi threw a season high 118 pitches. Two of his inherited runners scored in the seventh on Buster Posey's opposite-field, two-run single off Chad Green, who pitched the final 2 1/3 innings.
After taking two of three games from the NL West-leading Giants (58-40), the Yankees hit the road for three games at Houston followed by a three-game set at Tampa Bay.
The non-waiver trade deadline is Aug. 1, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman might have a deal in place for Chapman a lot sooner than later.
Eligible for free agency at season's end, Chapman is primarily being courted by the Cubs, Indians and Nationals, with the Giants also in the mix.
A trade of Chapman would restore Andrew Miller as the Yankees' closer.
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal first reported the high likelihood of a Chapman trade by the deadline. The Yankees have not been willing to move Miller, who has two years left at $18 million remaining on his contract.
"We don't want to be broken up; we want a chance to fight and fight and fight," Girardi said before Sunday's homestand finale against the Giants. "But we need to play better."
Chapman could be the only prominent Yankee dealt this week, but Carlos Beltran _ also in the final year of his contract _ could help a contender in need of an offensive boost.
"A lot of it still depends on how we do," said Girardi, speaking generally about the fast-approaching trade deadline. "What we've told players is you've got to block out the noise because there's going to be discussions throughout, there's going to be speculation throughout.
"Part of my job is helping them block the noise out and focus on the game."
Girardi said he wouldn't use his players any differently during this time, regardless of their prominence in trade talks. Chapman was used for two innings in Saturday's 2-1, 12-inning loss to San Francisco.
"I'm going to manage the games to win, that's my job," Girardi said. "And the only thing we can control is wins and losses down here in this clubhouse and that's what we have to worry about."
