By Eddie Castro
As we approach the month of August, the New York Yankees are still fighting and crawling their way in hopes of capturing first place in the American League East, despite over $144 million dollars that is currently sitting on the Injured List.
Names like Giancarlo Stanton (calf), Aaron Judge (rib), and Cody Bellinger (hamstring) are all out of action due to Injuries—the Injuries to those key players have left the Yankee lineup looking like a Spring Training game.
General Manager Brian Cashman knows he must make a few moves before those star players return to the lineup. Although the Yankees have weathered the storm up to this point, there are still many holes within the roster.
Cashman is hopeful to secure a few upgrades before the trade deadline, which is Monday, August 3rd at 6:00 P.M. as we go to press, the Yankees have a win lost record of 61-46 a game and a half behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, winning 7 of their last 10 games.
With so many roster needs to address, just who exactly will the Yanks trade for at the deadline? Here are the potential trade pieces the Yankees are expected to target based on position needs.
The first move to expect from the Bronx Bombers is at the catcher position. The Yankees catchers, in general this year have a combined batting average of .175 ranking among the least productive teams behind the plate.
Starting catcher Austin Wells is at the bottom of categories statistically for catchers and currently has a batting average of .160 on the year. Although Wells has been hitting better the past seven games, he still has struggled most of the year, which is why it is believed Cashman will not necessarily trade Wells, but definitely find a more consistent option at the position.
The Yankees have been linked to catchers such as the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers .294, 9 HR and 35 RBIs (batting average, home runs, and RBIs) Hunter Goodman (.256/ 31 HR/60 RBIs), and the Cardinals’ Ivan Herrera (.244/ 12 HR/44 RBIs). All three catchers are possible trade options the Yankees could trade for at the catcher position with all three players having pretty solid seasons thus far.
Regardless of who the Yankees land, it is clear they are looking for an upgrade at catcher preferably a right-handed batter with their lineup being so left-handed savvy as it is. My guess that the Yankees strike a deal with Minnesota for Jeffers.
Yankee scouts have been looking at him for some time and Jeffers’ name has come up in trade rumors linked to the Yankees for some time. The Yankees would love to add a starting pitcher as well as another arm to go with their already great bullpen.
The team has been linked to Padres closer Mason Miller. Miller will require a lot of trade pieces back in return, but if the Yankees can get Miller to go with what they have in current closer David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, and Brent Headrick, it will without a doubt be one of the most dangerous bullpens in all of baseball.
The upside of landing a deal for Miller besides him throwing 100-plus miles an hour is that he will not be a free agent until 2029. The Yankees have also been linked to his teammate and bullpen partner Adrian Morejon.
For now, we do know that Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton should be back at some point during the season. The Yankees ironically have played better of late despite the injuries the team has endured thanks in part to the rotation and the number one-ranked bullpen in the league with an ERA of 3.06.
This trade deadline is probably the biggest and most important in some time for the Yankees to not only make the playoffs but possibly make another World Series appearance. To put it into perspective, if the Yankees are serious about winning, we should expect Cashman to be amongst the teams looking to trade and upgrade.
Sure, it may cost a few top prospects in the Yankees’ farm system, but if New York can make a few season-changing deals without including top prospects George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Larraga, they will be considered one of the winners in this year’s deadline.
Then come September, you’re pretty much adding to the offense with the return of Judge, Stanton, and Bellinger which will without a doubt feel like trade deadline acquisitions. There is just about a week left until the trade deadline and the Yankees should be one of the teams to watch in a possible big move.
Sports Notes: WNBA: The New York Liberty are scratching and crawling to seal a few victories in hopes of making another strong playoff push. Brianna Stewart and company will head to Las Vegas to battle the defending champion Aces Thursday July 30.
BASEBALL: As we go to press, the Yankees will be in the Chicago area for the next 6 days. They have two games remaining against the White Sox. Before concluding their road trip three games against the Cubs.
The Mets are rumored to be “sellers” at the trade deadline as the team looks to collect and rebuild the team with draft prospects. The team began a four-game set at Citi Field against the division rival Miami Marlins last Thursday, July 30.