With his hoodie up and his AirPods in, a laser-focused Cam Schlittler sat at his locker and tried to stay present as he prepared for his eighth major league start on Monday. Aaron Boone, on the other hand, looked backward and forward as he discussed the Yankees ’ right-handed rookie before beginning a series with the Nationals .

“I knew it was going to be really hard for our guys to trade him,” the manager said when asked about the interest Schlittler received ahead of last month’s wheeling and dealing deadline . “I’m sure they would’ve had to have been overwhelmed with something. That’s how we view Cam.

“This is a future staple of our rotation, so I’m sure it wouldn’t have been easy for a club to get him.”

Schlittler, never much of a hyped prospect before this season, continued

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