The Yankees are staring at a familiar problem again: Giancarlo Stanton’s return remains murky, and the club may need to start planning as if the future arrives without him.
Aaron Boone has offered mixed signals on Stanton, calling the timetable a mystery one day and then, on Talkin’ Yanks, saying he’s closer than anybody realizes. That uncertainty is exactly why a proactive move makes sense, and one option on the table could come from Pittsburgh.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said on the Foul Territory Podcast that Oneil Cruz could be available, not because the Pirates are tearing things down, but because they may want to turn his value into pitching help.
"The one name that has come up is Oneil Cruz," Nightengale tells the Foul Territory Podcast. "He frees up some money.
They do have some outfield depth. Can they trade Oneil Cruz to get some bullpen help, because they need bullpen help as much as any contender out there?"
Nightengale also pointed to the Pirates’ broader approach, saying, "I think the mandate from ownership is doing what it takes to be in the playoffs, but not jumping up that payroll anytime soon," says @BNightengale. pic.twitter.com/C3ksIVoLwI
This wouldn’t be the first time the Yankees have been tied to Cruz. Last July, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that New York was among the teams that checked in on his status, though Pittsburgh had no intention of moving him then.
The Yankees also have possible pieces they could send back. Ben Grable, whom they drafted in 2025, is one name that could surface.
He doesn’t have much pro experience, but he’s climbing fast thanks to a nasty fastball. Grable has 53 strikeouts in 32.2 innings in the minors this season, and his heater has drawn comparisons to Alex Vesia’s with the Dodgers.
Elmer Rodríguez is another possibility. He’s more of a starter, and the source material notes he would be on the Yankees’ big-league roster if not for being blocked.
Then there’s Yovanny Cruz, who could fit Pittsburgh’s need for immediate bullpen help. He doesn’t carry the same value as Grable or Rodríguez, but his arm is loud. Cruz throws between 98 and 101 MPH, has made only a few big league appearances this season, and owns 44 strikeouts in 32.1 innings at Triple-A.
The appeal for New York is obvious. Cruz is a left-handed bat who would come with years of control, not reaching free agency until 2029. He has not fully matched the hype from his climb through the minors, but this season has been his best in the majors.
He’s hitting .264/.350/.472 with a 123 wRC+, along with 14 homers, 44 RBI, and 21 steals. He’s also on the 60-day IL with a broken left hand and is eligible to come off the injured list on August 8, five days after the deadline.
If healthy, he could fit into right field while the Yankees wait on Aaron Judge and Stanton. And with Stanton’s reliability still in question, the idea of getting ahead of the curve carries real weight, especially if this ends up being Stanton’s last season in pinstripes if there’s a lockout next year.
Cruz also brings some Stanton-like traits of his own. He ranks in the 100th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate, sits in the 96th percentile in barrel rate, and has a 99th percentile bat speed. For a Yankees team trying to win now without ignoring what comes next, that kind of profile is hard to overlook.
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Volpe is still under team control through 2028, so any conversation around him would be about fit, development and long-term value rather than a quick rental move. Tampa Bay has built a reputation for getting more out of players, which is part of what makes this pairing worth watching if the Rays decide to get aggressive and if the Yankees decide they need to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Finally Got Injury News Fans Desperately Needed On Stanton And Fried
Giancarlo Stantons return has been one of the Yankees most closely watched injury stories since the slugger went down with a calf strain on April 24, and there is at least some forward movement now. Stanton has resumed a running progression, which is a meaningful step even if the club still has not put a firm timetable on when hell be back in a game.
Max Frieds path is a little clearer, and it matters just as much for a rotation that could use the help. The left-hander, sidelined since mid-May with a bone bruise in his elbow, is lined up for a 60-pitch rehab start on July 22, with the Yankees expecting him to rejoin the staff next week as they move into a series against the White Sox. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Finally Have A Real Catching Fix At A Cost
Shea Langeliers has started to look like one of the more practical catching targets on the market for a Yankees club that could use a clearer answer behind the plate. The Athletics have been open to listening, and the fit is obvious on paper: New York gets a catcher with real offensive upside, while Oakland gets the kind of pitching help it has been chasing as it tries to reshape the roster.
The catch, of course, is getting a deal to the finish line without emptying out the system in a way the Yankees will regret later. Any serious conversation is going to have to account for the Athletics' need for arms, which pushes the talks toward prospect-heavy packages and makes the price feel less like a simple upgrade and more like a calculated gamble on how much catching certainty is worth right now. [Read more 🡒]