Once the holders of the best record in baseball, the New York Yankees are struggling and need a big trade (or two) to salvage their championship-or-bust season. The Yankees have gone just 5-14 since becoming the first team to reach 50 wins on June 14th. Their recent slump has shown that they still have very real flaws that need to be addressed.
Trading for Juan Soto completely changed the Yankees’ lineup that for years only went as far as Aaron Judge could carry them. But the rest of the lineup just is not very deep. The lack of depth has been a long-standing problem that has haunted the Bronx Bombers in recent years. Of the 11 hitters with 100 plate appearances, only Judge, Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton have an OPS+ above 100. Stanton’s absence has only magnified the issue.
Apart from shortstop Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ infield has contributed little offensively, and even he has struggled in recent weeks. Before Saturday’s win, New York had dropped four straight games and 14 of their last 18, scoring just 83 runs in that span. This is more than just a “rough patch,” as manager Aaron Boone likes to say. The Yankees are in trouble. With a few weeks until the trade deadline, general manager Brian Cashman is reportedly seeking several upgrades.
Yankees Seeking Trade Reinforcements to Stop Spiral
Aside from upgrading the bullpen, the Yankees need to address the inconsistency of the bottom half of the order. New York has plenty of players capable of producing big numbers, but not enough who can do it on a day-to-day basis.
Upgrade the Infield
While the Yankees are “optimistic” about rookie Ben Rice’s contributions filling in for the injured Anthony Rizzo, one area of need is at first base. Rizzo was struggling before suffering a broken forearm and DJ LeMahieu has batted .175/.270/.196 since returning from injury.
Assuming the Chicago Cubs decide to sell at the deadline, outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger would be a perfect fit. Batting .274/.334/.422 with nine home runs and 37 RBI, Bellinger’s numbers are exactly what the Yankees need. The former MVP would give the Yankees a massive upgrade at first base and could also shift to the outfield. He has two years left on his contract with player opt-out options in each of his next two seasons.
As Gleyber Torres appears to have re-aggravated a groin injury, the Yankees are reportedly looking to add a second baseman. Jon Heyman of the New York Post called Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India a good “positional fit” for the Yankees. Slugging .333/.419/.593 over his last seven games, India has been red-hot and is under team control through 2026. Along with his strong defense, India’s 124 OPS+ and 12.6% walk rate would be a valuable addition to the Yankees lineup.
New York has also been linked to Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo.
Beef Up the Bullpen
The Yankees’ sudden downturn can be partly attributed to their bullpen deteriorating at an unfathomable rate. For the first two months of the season, the Bronx was home to the best bullpen in baseball. Now they sit slightly above average with a collective 3.69 ERA after giving up 151 runs in June. With closer Clay Holmes and the various relievers that have been acquired in recent weeks struggling, the Yankees are actively seeking reinforcements.
Jon Heyman reported that Marlins closer Tanner Scott is one of the Yankees’ top trade targets. Scott has a 1.46 ERA with 12 saves and 41 strikeouts over 36 appearances for Miami this season. Pairing the power lefty with Holmes as a lethal late-inning duo would set the bullpen up nicely going into October.
New York could benefit from more swing-and-miss in the bullpen, making Chicago White Sox starter-turned-closer Michael Kopech an intriguing candidate. His numbers are not nearly as pretty as Scott’s are, but he strikes batters out at a 30.7% rate. The 28-year-old throws a 99 mph four-seamer and 86 mph slider mix combining for a 31.1 whiff percentage. Kopech is only making $3 million this season, and unlike Scott, the Chicago right-hander comes with another year of control.
World Series Outlook
As the trade deadline approaches, the New York Yankees need help just about everywhere to escape their downward spiral. But with a little help, the Yankees may have their best chance to win the World Series since 2009.
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