The upcoming trade deadline will be a busy affair for the New York Yankees. While a roster overhaul is unlikely due to limitations of the market pool, the front office is still expected to address at least a couple of areas. On that note, here are six such areas of concern and how the Yanks can address them at the deadline.
First Base: Yandy Diaz
Anthony Rizzo is on IL with arm fracture and rookie prospect Ben Rice is handling first base duties momentarily. While Rice has been massively productive, the New York Yankees need a permanent solution, and Rays’ Yandy Diaz would be the one. While his availability is uncertain as he is away from the team due to undisclosed family reasons, Diaz is slashing .273/.329/.396 with 8 home runs this season which makes him an ideal trade candidate.
Second Base: Jonathan India
Reds’ second baseman, Jonathan India, is someone the New York Yankees are deeply interested in. Gleyber Torres needs to move away, and with India, the Yanks need to add a much better offensive bat. India is hitting .271/.374/.415 slash line with eight home runs and 40 RBIs this year. He can also play third base, which adds to his versatility. However, owing to Jonathan’s high demand, the Reds have increased his trade value, which definitely puts Yanks in a tricky spot.
Third Base: Isaac Paredes
DJ LeMahieu isn’t getting any better at third base, as the aging veteran is on a decline. Meanwhile, Isaac Paredes, a versatile infielder, owns a 248/.351/.442 slash line with 16 homers and 51 RBIs this year. Paredes’ versatility and improving bat make him a suitable candidate to address the Yankees’ infield depth issues. Additionally, Paredes is a long-term candidate, as the 25-year-old is under team control until 2026.
Left Field: Brent Rooker
With Alex Verdugo struggling and Jasson Dominguez recovering from an oblique injury, the New York Yankees could use a left fielder at the trade deadline. Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker could be a solid offensive upgrade for the Yanks. He owns a .290/.369/.574 slash line with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs this year, and interestingly, Rooker won’t be a free agent until 2028. Hence, this trade could secure the Yanks’ long-term outfield depth issues.
Rotation: Jack Flaherty
The New York Yankees starting rotation has been inconsistent in the second half as the pitchers have experienced the fatigue of the full-season grind. Moreover, with Clarke Schmidt on IL with a lat strain, the team is definitely missing a piece. Meanwhile, Jack Flaherty is having a resurgence this year with a 2.95 ERA over 18 starts with the Tigers. He also struck out 133 batters over 106.2 innings pitched. While injury past could be a concern, Jack is still a massive rotation upgrade the Yanks can add at the trade deadline.
Bullpen: Tanner Scott
Bullpen depth, by far, has been the New York Yankees’ biggest weakness this year. But adding Tanner Scott at the trade deadline could boost the relief corps. Scott, an impending free agency, owns a 1.21 ERA across 20 appearances, including 18 saves. His electric stuff and ability to strike out batters make him an excellent candidate. His experience in closing games also adds depth to the Yankees’ late-inning options, thus releasing pressure off Clay Holmes.
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