As the July trade deadline nears, the New York Yankees are gearing up to be proactive. With a roster already considered capable of winning a World Series, strategically adding key players could set them apart from their fierce competitors and boost their chances of success.
Yankees’ Trade Deadline Strategy: Aggressive Moves Ahead
The Yankees, also known as the Bombers, recognize the need to surpass the Baltimore Orioles in the American League to reach the World Series. Thus, they are preparing to bolster their lineup with the necessary talent to meet this challenge.
Rethinking the Infield Configuration
Reports from The Athletic indicate that the Yankees are likely to seek upgrades at both first and third base. Currently, Anthony Rizzo is manning first base, and DJ LeMahieu is primarily at third, but both have struggled offensively this season.
Rizzo has played in 66 games, with a batting average of .221, an on-base percentage of .279, and a slugging percentage of .332. He has seven home runs and 26 RBIs, but his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 78 indicates he is performing 22% below the average MLB hitter. His career lows in metrics like a 33.5% hard-hit rate and a 4.3% barrel rate, along with poor performance with runners in scoring position, raise concerns for the Yankees as the playoffs approach. While improvement is possible, the underlying stats suggest a significant regression rather than a return to peak form.
LeMahieu, recovering from a right foot injury, has also been inconsistent. The 35-year-old’s stats are disappointing, with a .205 batting average, .326 on-base percentage, .205 slugging percentage, one RBI, and a 69 wRC+. Although the Yankees are giving LeMahieu time to regain his form, there is little optimism for a substantial offensive rebound to his 2022 levels. However, he remains valuable defensively.
Given LeMahieu’s role as a primary utility player, the Yankees might consider a replacement at third base. Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies has been mentioned as an ideal candidate, but his availability is uncertain due to the Rockies’ reluctance to trade despite their poor season performance.
Expanding the Search for Talent
Finding high-caliber infielders will be challenging due to the scarcity of available talent that matches championship aspirations. Nonetheless, the Yankees plan to cast a wide net, targeting lower-tier teams that might be willing to trade quality players for prospects.
Securing top-tier talent is easier said than done, but General Manager Brian Cashman is committed to making aggressive roster upgrades. This season represents one of the best opportunities in recent years for the Yankees to reach the World Series, highlighting the urgency of their trade deadline activities.