This season’s trade deadline will be highly crucial for the New York Yankees. With the championship campaign taking a hit due to incessant injuries, the team needs fresh faces on the roster to reignite the lost fight. As a result, the Bombers are expected to be aggressive buyers during the trade deadline on August 1.
The bullpen is not a problem for now, as they have enough arms to support the starters. Also, once Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes are back from injuries, the rotation will be complete. Hence, the Yankees must put all their attention into bolstering the offense. Without Aaron Judge, the batting lineup has become a mess, and this slugging duo can highly benefit the team in the latter half of the season.
Former World Series Champions Linked To Yankees Amid Offensive Woes
This trade deadline, the New York Yankees need strong bats to cover up for the captain Aaron Judge. The Athletic put together a trade package that included a couple of potent hitters who also happen to be former world series champions. The first one is Giants slugger Joc Pederson. The Yankees could offer right-hander Will Warren, the No. 7 prospect of the organization, in exchange. This season, he is hitting .259 with eight home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .855 OPS in 47 games. The left-hander’s batting style would suit the dynamics of the Yankee stadium, and he can produce good numbers for the team at home.
Another possible trade deal is acquiring former NL-MVP Cody Bellinger in exchange for right-hander Clayton Beeter and outfielder Estevan Florial. After earning the MVP title in 2019, Cody’s form has been on the downside. But he recently is witnessing a resurgence this season. Despite missing significant game time due to injury, the outfielder is hitting .261 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and a .775 OPS in 48 games. He has also successfully stolen 10 bases in 12 attempts. His defensive activities in the field make him a great trade target for the Yankees. Overall, the outfield duo looks very much capable of ending the team’s offensive slump and will be a good addition during the trade deadline.
Ex-Red Sox Champion Pitcher Could Move To Rival Team
While the pitching front is not a major problem for the Yankees, they would still look at a few options. One such target, according to Athletic, is former Red Sox world series champion Joe Kelly. Currently, with Chicago White Sox, Kelly could make a move to New York in exchange for pitching prospects Greg Weissert, Luis Gil, and Carlos Lagrange. This season, he has recorded a 3.81 ERA with 1.154 WHIP and 32 strikeouts with a lousy team like White Sox.
He could be a good addition to the Yankees. But the team is unlikely to prioritize boosting the bullpen during the trade deadline. Strengthening the offense is a top priority, as Aaron Judge’s return odds are getting bleaker with each passing day. Overall, the trade deadline would be an interesting day for the Bronx Bombers, and fans have set high expectations already. It would be interesting to see if the front office can live up to the expectations.
