Brian Cashman is staring at a trade deadline that could tempt him into chasing every shiny name on the market. The Yankees are being connected to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller and Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, and the chatter has only grown louder since Cody Bellinger landed on the injured list over the weekend.
But the smartest move for the Yankees might be the one that looks the least dramatic: do nothing major.
That’s the case for restraint, anyway. If Bellinger, right fielder Aaron Judge and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton all make it back for September, New York’s lineup suddenly looks a lot scarier. You’re talking about three former MVPs, and there isn’t a bat on the trade market that can match that kind of ceiling.
And if they don’t come back in time for the stretch run, then the Yankees probably aren’t winning the World Series anyway. That makes the idea of shipping out premium prospects for a short-term fix a tough sell. Cashman would be wiser to keep his best trade chips intact and think bigger-picture, with 2027 in mind.
There’s also the market itself. The Yankees are desperate, and everyone knows it.
That never helps. With multiple contenders shopping at the same time, New York would almost certainly have to pay a steep premium for any meaningful upgrade.
Even so, the Yankees are not drifting out of the race. They still lead the American League Wild Card standings heading into Tuesday night and sit just 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.
The offense has been a grind, no question. Aaron Boone has had to patch together lineups that would test anybody’s patience. But the Yankees have managed more than just survival while Stanton has been out since April and Judge has been sidelined since the end of May.
If this team is going to make a real October run, though, it will have to ride the pitching. Gerrit Cole and Max Fried are rounding into form after IL stints.
Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt are expected back sooner rather than later. Cam Schlittler is still being talked about as a Cy Young Award candidate.
Put it all together and the Yankees own the majors’ best staff ERA at 3.41.
The bullpen has done its part, too. New York ranks second in the majors with a 3.07 team bullpen ERA, and David Bednar has been a big reason why.
He’s fifth in the AL with 21 saves, and he hasn’t allowed a run since May 18. That’s 20 straight scoreless appearances.
If Cashman wants to add something, a cheaper stopgap like Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas makes more sense than a blockbuster swing. The temptation to go all-in will be there, but the price tag will be brutal and the upgrade might not be enough to change the postseason picture.
FanGraphs still gives the Yankees a 98.7% chance to make the playoffs, along with a 12.2% shot at winning the World Series. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers have better title odds at 24.3%.
That’s the strange part of all this: even with the offense banged up and the roster far from perfect, the Yankees are still viewed as the favorite to represent the AL in the World Series.
So maybe the boldest move is patience. Let the deadline pass without a splash if that’s what it takes.
If Judge, Stanton and Bellinger return in time for October, the Yankees have a real path to their first championship since 2009. If they don’t, then no deadline deal was going to save them anyway.
In Other News...
Aaron Judge Sent Yankees A Sharp Trade Deadline Message
Sidelined with a fractured rib, Aaron Judge still managed to put a crisp edge on the Yankees trade deadline conversation. With New York working through injuries and trying to keep pace in the AL East, the captain said the club has to put itself in position to help the front office add the final pieces, a reminder that the deadline starts with performance in the clubhouse long before it reaches the phones.
The Yankees are believed to be looking for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, a catcher and bullpen help, and that list only feels more urgent with the roster shorthanded. Aaron Boone acknowledged the front office is trying to improve the team, but he stopped short of promising anything, leaving the next few days to determine whether Judges message turns into actual reinforcements. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Trade Idea Solves A Bullpen Need Without The Usual Price
A bullpen upgrade can look expensive in late July, but the Yankees may have a path to one without paying the kind of premium that usually comes with a high-end reliever. In a speculative idea floated by The Athletics Chris Kirschner and backed by former MLB GM Jim Bowden, New York and San Diego could line up on a deal that would give the Yankees a left-handed arm to fit neatly into the late innings while sending the Padres a pair of pitching prospects with longer-term value.
The appeal for the Yankees is obvious: a reliever who can slot behind David Bednar and help stabilize the bridge to the ninth inning, with Brent Headrick and Fernando Cruz still available in fireman-type roles. From San Diegos side, Bowden sees a club with a rotation to rebuild and a chance to turn one bullpen piece into two controllable arms who could develop into back-of-the-rotation starters, which is the kind of logic that can make a trade idea linger even before anyone knows whether it becomes more than talk. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Could Fix Their Outfield With A Familiar Enemy
The Yankees have spent plenty of time trying to patch together their outfield, and a veteran name with a long track record in October is at least worth a look. George Springer is no longer the same bat he was at his peak, but he still brings enough offensive credibility and big-game experience to make him an intriguing fit for a club that has been searching for more stability and punch in the corners.
There are obvious reasons to be cautious. Springers production has slipped from last season, and the defensive metrics point to a player whose range is no longer what it once was, which matters for any team trying to tighten up run prevention. Even so, the appeal is easy to understand for the Yankees: if they are going to add an outfield bat, they need to decide whether the postseason rsum and remaining upside are enough to justify the risk. [Read more 🡒]