The Yankees’ potential wild-card threat just became a little stronger.

Oakland acquired starting pitcher Mike Fiers from Detroit on Monday in exchange for two players to be named later or cash considerations.

The A’s sit 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees for the first wild card, which has become the Yankees’ realistic path to the playoffs after they were swept this weekend by Boston. Oakland also is four games back of Houston in the AL West and now has a more formidable rotation.

Fiers, who had spent the last three years with Houston, started 21 games in Detroit, going 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA. He has been especially strong of late, putting up a 2.10 ERA in his past six outings.

Fiers has history with Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton; a fastball from the righty hit Stanton in the face four seasons ago leaving the then-Marlins star with facial fractures. Fiers hit Stanton again earlier this season and Stanton would later homer in that game, pointing at Fiers after he crossed home plate.

After the trade deadline passed, Fiers was put on waivers and claimed by Oakland, and the two sides worked out a deal.

The Tigers have the choice of taking money back for Fiers or browsing for two names from a pool of prospects, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.