The Yankees have kept stacking wins, but that doesn’t mean they’ve looked like an October wrecking ball. There’s a real gap between a club that survives the schedule and one that scares everybody in the postseason, and right now this group still feels like the former.
Part of that comes down to who isn’t in the lineup. Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton are all sidelined, which leaves three major bats out of action. No deadline addition was going to walk in and replace that kind of production.
That’s why Luis García matters, even if he isn’t the headline. He can deepen the lineup and ease some of the burden on the rest of the roster. But the bigger truth hasn’t changed: the Yankees’ October outlook still depends on getting their stars back.
There is at least some movement on the Stanton side.
Reports say Stanton is slated to see rehabbing left-hander Carlos Rodón in a live batting practice session Monday, then face Clarke Schmidt on Tuesday. Aaron Boone said Stanton is nearing that point, though he didn’t say whether Stanton will actually take swings or just stand in the box and watch 95 mph fastballs fly past.
Baby steps, apparently. Boone doesn't really know anything anyway.
Judge’s situation is less promising.
There’s still no timetable for new imaging, and Judge isn’t doing strength work, upper-body workouts, or baseball activities. In plain terms, he doesn’t look close.
So Stanton could return before Judge, but that wouldn’t have changed Brian Cashman’s deadline approach. The Yankees had to operate as if both were out.
Credit them for staying afloat. They’ve found ways to win without the heart of the order. But hanging around in August isn’t the finish line.
If this team is going to make real noise in October, García can help - but Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton have to be the ones driving it.
In Other News...
Yankees Deadline Push Now Hinges On One Catching Upgrade
The Yankees are still trying to make one more meaningful move before the deadline, and the most interesting part of their search has centered on catcher. They want a right-handed bat behind the plate, a sensible fit for a roster that is already being pushed toward added bullpen help and another right-handed hitter elsewhere, and they have not been shy about working the market with that kind of urgency.
Tyler Stephenson, Adley Rutschman and Ryan Jeffers have all come up as possible answers, which shows how broad the search has become and how competitive the market is likely to be. For a club intent on upgrading in more than one spot, the catching pursuit may end up shaping how the rest of the deadline unfolds, especially if the front office has to decide how far it wants to go to land the right fit. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Have A Trade Answer For Their Injury Hit Lineup
The Yankees lineup has been strained by the injuries to Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, and the front office has been doing what it can to survey a thin trade market for help. Catchers and infielders are scarce in particular, which makes the search more difficult and pushes the conversation toward whatever productive bats might actually become available before the deadline.
One name worth watching is Randy Arozarena, a player the Yankees know well enough to appreciate as a possible fit in a lineup looking for more punch. The Seattle outfielder has put together strong offensive numbers this season, and his situation could make him one of the more interesting names to track if New York decides it needs to act on the market rather than wait for reinforcements from within. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Fans Just Got A Yankees Trade Twist To Process
The Yankees are adding another wrinkle to their infield and batting-order picture, with ESPNs Jeff Passan reporting they are reportedly trading for Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. It is the kind of move that immediately invites lineup speculation because Garcia gives New York another capable left-handed bat, and any extra offense around the middle of the order tends to matter in October-minded planning.
But the fit is not as simple as just slotting in one more name and moving on. Garcias arrival adds depth, yet it also brings a real juggling act for the Yankees as they try to sort out playing time and keep the lineup balanced without creating unnecessary friction on the bench. The upside is obvious, but the next question is how New York makes all of the pieces work once everyone is actually in the mix. [Read more 🡒]