The Yankees’ Cody Bellinger injury has quickly changed the calculus at the trade deadline, and it may have pushed New York into an awkward spot: looking north for help from the Blue Jays.
Bellinger, who signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million deal after New York beat out Toronto for his services this past offseason, suffered a hamstring strain in the Yankees’ game against the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend. Sportsnet reported that he is expected to miss four to six weeks. Aaron Boone said Bellinger has a Grade 2 strain and will be out 4-6 weeks, per @BryanHoch.
That leaves the Yankees with a clear short-term problem in the outfield, and Toronto happens to have the kind of pieces that could fit. The Blue Jays have a cluster of left-handed hitting outfielders who could draw New York’s attention, including veterans Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes and the recovering Jesús Sánchez. They also have younger options in Yohendrick Piñango and RJ Schreck, who has not yet made his major league debut.
Toronto is expected to sell at the deadline, according to MLB insider Jeff Passan, but that doesn’t mean it will be eager to move every controllable outfielder. The Blue Jays also have to think about the future, especially with Anthony Santander and Addison Barger set to return from injuries next season. Even so, the logjam in the outfield could make a deal more likely than it first appears.
Piñango stands out as one of the more intriguing names. He has already made his MLB debut this season and has hit .259 with a .704 OPS, five home runs and 20 RBIs in 56 games for Toronto.
If New York wants a steadier veteran bat, Lukes would make sense. The 32-year-old is hitting .281 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 72 games this year, and he’d give the Yankees a contact-oriented option.
Varsho brings a different profile. His offense has lagged this season - he’s batting .244 with a .685 OPS, seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 94 games - but he offers elite defense and has already won a Gold Glove. If the Yankees are chasing impact on the glove side as much as at the plate, he would be the cleanest fit.
Sánchez would be the power play. Before landing on the IL in June with a right ankle sprain, the 28-year-old was hitting .274 with a .753 OPS, seven home runs and 29 RBIs. He has already started rehab games, which keeps him in the conversation if New York decides it wants more thump.
For now, the Yankees have a decision to make. Bellinger is expected back by September, and that reality could keep them from emptying out their prospect stash for a short-term fix. But with a division title in play and a hole to patch immediately, the Blue Jays’ outfield depth suddenly looks a lot more interesting to their biggest rival.
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