As the Yankees line up their final moves before the trade deadline, the biggest names tied to their lineup still aren’t giving anyone much clarity. Giancarlo Stanton is moving closer to a return, Aaron Judge is not, and neither update does much to settle how Brian Cashman and the front office should approach the market.
Stanton is set to take part in live batting practice on Monday afternoon against rehabbing Carlos Rodón, with Clarke Schmidt scheduled for Tuesday. Aaron Boone confirmed Stanton’s involvement, but he couldn’t say for sure whether Stanton will actually swing or simply stand in the box. Boone said Stanton has “in position to probably do that now for a little bit," though he stopped short of locking anything in.
That uncertainty matters, because Stanton’s road back has already been a long one. He was initially expected to miss only a few days after straining his calf in April while jogging between second and third base. Instead, he worked nearly all the way back, then suffered a second strain that took him out of the picture again.
Judge’s situation remains even murkier. Boone said there is still no reimaging date, which means no strength training, no upper-body work, and no baseball activities yet.
The hoped-for thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis never materialized, but the news since then has not pointed toward a clean or quick return. At this stage, it still looks like an uphill climb for him to get back before the postseason, or to play effectively if he does.
The bigger issue for the Yankees is that the offense has gone sideways since mid-June. A stretch of excellent starting pitching has been wasted in historic fashion, and the current lineup simply isn’t giving the club enough. Stanton and Judge would change that instantly if they were healthy, but that’s not the reality the Yankees are operating in right now.
So as the deadline approaches, the message is pretty plain: Stanton and Judge can be viewed as possible bonuses. They cannot be the plan. The Yankees have too many lineup holes to treat either return as a reason to stand pat.
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 🡒]