The New York Yankees are in sole possession of the AL-East division’s bottom spot, three games below the playoff wildcard spot. Injuries and inconsistent gameplay have marred their season so far. However, as the postseason inches closer, the Bronx Bombers’ roster is getting healthier. Once Aaron Judge returns to the deck, the lineup will be complete and capable of making a final playoff push.
Having said that, the Yankees will still need a couple of fresh faces going forward to ensure October’s success. This year’s summer deadline is approaching in a few days, and the Yankees are likely to remain an active part of it. While the office is yet undecided on its stance, buying remains the most preferred option. Meanwhile, rumors have linked the Yanks to a key Washington Nationals duo.
Yankees Interested In Nationals Jeimer Candelario And Lane Thomas At Trade Deadline
The New York Yankees are yet to reveal if they would buy or sell at the upcoming August 1 trade deadline. However, as per popular opinion, the Yanks would look to buy a couple of players. Meanwhile, as Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Bombers are showing active interest in Washington Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario and outfielder Lane Thomas. The duo will solve two major areas of concern for the New York-based team the third base and left field. Jeimer is currently having the best year of his career. He is hitting .253 with 16 home runs, 52 RBIs, and .812 OPS.
On the other hand, Lane Thomas is witnessing a breakout season with the Washington Nationals. In 101 games, he is hitting .290 with 16 home runs, 54 RBIs, and .819 OPS. Moreover, since the Nationals are way out of playoff contention, they would not mind selling at this point. Jim Bowden further wrote in his piece that a strong package of prospects consisting of Richard Fitts, Chase Hampton, outfielder Anthony Hall, and shortstop Roderick Arias should be enough for the Nationals to ship off Candelario and Thomas. However, it’s up to the Yankees if they wish to part ways which such a wide range of prospects from the farm system. The ball is in the Bronx Bombers’ court, and time is running out.
Yanks Still Unsure On Trade Approach
The summer trade deadline will end at 6 pm on Tuesday. Yet, the New York Yankees have kept their approach under wraps. While the team was supposed to buy, the ever-changing dynamics and Aaron Judge‘s likely return have put the front office in a fix. If the Bombers continue to lose a few more games over the weekend, there exists a possibility that they might sell. Another factor that could change the Yanks’ stance is the unavailability of strong options.
Angels have pulled Shohei Ohtani off the trade market. Moreover, with the Cubs riding on a winning streak, they, too, would protect Cody Bellinger to keep the playoff dream alive. Hence, the lack of options could prompt the Yankees to stay completely off the radar during the trade deadline. Since the current roster is getting healthier, the front office has a belief that they might be enough to lift the team to the playoffs.
