The New York Yankees entered the All-Star break out of the playoff contention as they plunged to fourth position in the AL-East Division. That adds to the list of reasons why the Bronx Bombers should stay active and move swiftly at the upcoming August 1 trade deadline. The team undoubtedly needs fresh faces in the camp to give them a sense of belief and a different perspective.
Meanwhile, the primary area of concern will remain the outfield. Since Aaron Judge is injured, the Yankees need a strong arm that could also contribute to the offense. An offensive resurgence is a must for the Yanks to recover from this slump. As the trade deadline inches closer, two in-form outfielders are being linked to Bombers who could boost the team’s roster.
Cody Bellinger, Randal Grichuk Linked To Yankees As Trade Rumors Pick Up Pace
Recent trade rumors have linked the New York Yankees to potential outfield solutions, with Cody Bellinger and Randal Grichuk emerging as potential targets. Cubs’ outfielder Cody Bellinger displayed his talent at the Yankee stadium last week by hitting a home run over the left field. The former NL MVP is hitting .298 with nine homers and 29 RBIs. With the Cubs also out of playoff contention, they could become sellers and offer Cody a couple of prospects. However, if Bellinger continues to perform and uplift Cubs from the dead, then things might get complicated for the Yankees. Nevertheless, Cody has a special connection with the Bronx, as his father won two rings for the team. Hence, persuading him is unlikely to remain a challenging task.
On the other hand, Colorado Rockies outfielder Randal Grichuk is also a potential trade candidate for the Yankees. While the Rockies are way out of the playoff race, they would not mind selling off Randal as he is set to enter free agency next season. The outfielder is batting .294 with a .811 OPS this season. Moreover, he always had a great time at the Yankee stadium with the bat. The only concerning thing is his defense. As per stats, Grichuk is one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball, producing minus-6 defensive runs saved this year. Hence, if the Yankees’ prime goal is to strengthen the offense, Randal Grichuk is their guy.
Yanks Hire Ex-Reds Baseman As Interim Batting Coach
New York Yankees made a bold move Yesterday after they sacked their batting coach, Dillon Lawson, as a result of an offensive collapse. Just after the announcement of Lawson’s exit, the team made it clear that a new coach would join in before the All-Star breaks. Meanwhile, as per an official announcement, the Yanks have hired Aaron Boone’s ex-teammate and former baseman, Sean Casey as the Bomber’s interim hitting coach.
Sean Casey received the job despite having zero coaching experience. After ending his 12-year career in 2008, Sean was working as a broadcaster and MLB analyst. Moreover, as per Jon Heyman, Casey will coach the Yankees for the rest of the season. The team has put him on a trial run to determine if he deserves a longer and permanent stint. It is also believed that manager Aaron Boone had a large influence on this move. It would be interesting to see how Sean adjusts to this new coaching role.