The Yankees have a pretty clear trade-deadline itch to scratch: they need another right-handed bat who can handle the corner infield spots.
Ryan McMahon has flashed here and there, but too often he’s been a problem, particularly against left-handers. Paul Goldschmidt’s revival has also cooled off after a strong start, echoing the way last season’s bounce-back faded once he hit a midseason wall. With bigger needs elsewhere likely to get expensive, a cheaper right-handed option for first and third base would make a lot of sense.
That’s where Tyler Hardman enters the picture.
New York took Hardman in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, betting on an Oklahoma hitter with college pop. The path since then has been bumpy.
Injuries, including Tommy John surgery, slowed him down, and strikeouts have been part of the package. But Hardman has also carved out a real milestone along the way: he became the Somerset Patriots’ all-time hits leader, reaching 242 hits in the process.
That record came with a lot of time in Central Jersey, which also explains why his prospect shine faded. Hardman first got a brief Double-A look in 2022, then finally reached Triple-A Scranton earlier this season. Once he got there, the bat took off.
In Somerset this year, he played 42 games and hit .300/.371/.613 with 13 homers across 167 plate appearances. After the move to Scranton, he kept right on going, adding nine more home runs in 44 games while batting .276/.369/.506 over 179 plate appearances. Put it all together, and he’s sitting on a .288/.370/.559 line with 22 homers in 2026.
That kind of production is hard to ignore, especially for a player who can cover both third base and first base, with some limited experience at second as well. The underlying numbers back up the results, too.
Hardman is driving the ball hard, lifting it to the pull side, and producing the kind of power profile that tends to hold up. The downside is familiar: he swings and misses plenty and can run into strikeout trouble.
Still, there’s real value there, whether the Yankees keep him or move him.
Hardman doesn’t look like a trade centerpiece, but he could absolutely work as a secondary piece in a deal. Think of him in the same lane as TJ Rumfield, who was dealt over the winter for Angel Chivilli. Rumfield wasn’t a highly ranked prospect or a headline name, but he’s since put together a strong season for the Rockies, hitting .296/.380/.475 with 12 homers.
That kind of return is the point. On his own, Hardman might bring back a project-type player like Chivilli. In a larger package, he could help push a deal over the finish line for a more meaningful target.
With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup during this stretch, the need for more right-handed punch has only become more obvious. Whether it’s as a bench bat, a depth piece, or a trade chip, Hardman looks like a player who can help solve that problem one way or another.
In Other News...
Yankees May Have Found A Real Catcher Answer Before Deadline Panic
The Yankees have spent enough of this season looking for answers behind the plate that the position has become part of the deadline conversation. Austin Wells has not given the club the production it expected, and general manager Brian Cashman has already acknowledged the issue while the front office sorts through possible trade options before the August 3 deadline. It is the kind of problem that can linger all summer if a team does not find a real fix, especially when the catching group is dragging in a way the Yankees can no longer ignore.
One name that has come up in the chatter is Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno, a player who would give New York a very different kind of profile at the position if the Yankees decided to push harder. Moreno has been productive for the Diamondbacks this season and, just as importantly for any trade market, comes with years of club control beyond this one. For now, there is no official deal on the table, but the fact that the Yankees are being linked to a catcher of that caliber tells you how seriously they are treating the position as deadline pressure builds. [Read more 🡒]
This Under The Radar Bat Could Fix More Than One Yankees Problem
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Steers appeal goes beyond just being a useful extra piece. He has handled multiple positions, has done damage against left-handed pitching and, with Cincinnatis playoff chances fading, he looks like the kind of player who could become available at the right time. The contract side matters too, since he is affordable now and controlled for several more seasons, which is exactly the sort of flexibility a contender like New York tends to value when it starts shopping for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Have Two Trade Decisions They Cant Afford To Miss
The Yankees are heading toward the trade deadline with the kind of roster pressure that usually forces a front office to pick priorities fast. The bullpen still needs help, the catcher spot remains unsettled, and the outfield and designated hitter mix has been thinned further by injuries, leaving the club with more holes than comfortable answers as it tries to stay on course in the American League race.
Aaron Judges situation only adds to the uncertainty, and Giancarlo Stanton being hurt again makes the lineup picture even harder to read. If the Yankees decide to buy, they will have to choose carefully between adding a bat and reinforcing the pitching staff, with names like Joc Pederson and Miguel Andujar floating as possible fits while the bigger question remains how aggressive they can afford to be. [Read more 🡒]