The Yankees and Astros could be competing over a starting pitcher at the trade deadline once again.

Longtime baseball writer Peter Gammons suggested the Astros could go after Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman this year. He reported Houston did its due diligence on the righty in 2017, but ultimately acquired Justin Verlander instead.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have also been connected to Stroman and MLB Network's Jon Heyman has said the pitcher will absolutely be traded this season, it's just a matter of where.

This isn't the first time these two teams have sought out the same arm.

Houston and New York both wanted Verlander from the Tigers in 2017. The Astros ultimately landed the Cy Young award winner at the deadline giving up top-100 prospect Franklin Perez, as well as Daz Cameron and Jake Rogers — who is on this year's Futures Team roster.

Houston then went on to go 2-0 in Verlanders' starts against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series that season and the Astros went on to win the first World Series in franchise history.

This year, Stroman could play a similar role at the trade deadline as Verlander as adding him to a rotation will instantly make it better.

But, the Houston Chronicle's Chandler Rome points out Stroman doesn't exactly fit with what the Astros do since they like four-seam fastball pitchers who work their curveballs off of fastballs up in the zone.

Stroman is more of a sinker, slider guy. But the fact is, he is probably an upgrade over Brad Peacock and definitely over some combination of Framber Valdez, Collin McHugh and Corbin Martin. However, Gerrit Cole was very much so a sinker/slider guy himself with the Pirates and adjusted his game when he got to Houston and has had a career resurgence.

Houston can work with whatever it can get in trades.

General manager Jeff Luhnow will do his due diligence and decide whether he wants to go out and get Stroman.

As for the Yankees, owner Hal Steinbrenner recently alluded to the fact that going after a top-of-the-rotation starter is dangerous due to the price tag that comes with him. But, he did give up a top-100 prospect in Justus Sheffield for James Paxton this offseason, so he clearly isn't afraid to pull the trigger on a good pitcher for the right price.

Houston and New York both have interest in Stroman, it's just a matter of who will be willing to pay the price for him.