An interesting team to follow leading up to the August 3rd MLB trade deadline are the New York Yankees.
While they might be currently comfortably situated in an AL Wild Card playoff spot, truth be told, the Bronx Bombers have a few key moves to make if they are to enter October as serious World Series threats.
The Yankees, who in the final days of July find themselves with a 62-48 record and 3.5 games behind the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, need an upgrade in key positions such as catcher, third base, and an outfielder who can provide power.
Heading into August, a big concern for the Yankees has to be all the injuries. Currently, they are missing a lot of big explosive bats in outfielders Cody Bellinger, who has been shelved with a grade 2 hamstring injury, Giancarlo Stanton, who hasn’t played since April 24th due to a right calf strain and three-time AL MVP (2022, 2024 and 2025) Aaron Judge, who on June fifth was diagnosed with a stress fracture on the right side of his first rib.
Bellinger was hitting 259 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs upon being injured in late July, while Judge was hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
Meanwhile, Stanton has only had 90 at-bats and is hitting .256 with 3 home runs and 14 RBIs.
The Yankees have also had injury concerns with their pitching. Currently two key starting pitchers still looking to come back from injuries are Clarke Schmidt, who is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery and is scheduled to be back sometime in August, and veteran Carlos Rodon, who is battling left elbow inflammation but should be back by August.
Besides needing to upgrade at those positions mentioned above, the Yankees must hope that their injured players who have returned in such players as pitchers Max Fried (elbow bone bruise) and Gerrit Cole who missed last year with Tommy John Surgery don’t have any in injury relapses in October.
New York Yankees Have Some Needs To Fill If They Hope To Play In World Series
It’s No Secret Yankees Need More Offense At Catcher Position
This has been a year to forget for Yankees catcher Austin Wells who had a long stint on the injured list this season with neck stiffness/cervical headaches. Wells, who ended up missing 12 games due to the injury, is as of late July hitting only .162 with 35 hits, 22 runs, seven home runs and 14 RBIs in only 216 at bats.
Quite the drop off from last season where he posted a career best 88 hits, 51 runs, 21 home runs and 71 RBIs.
As a result of Wells getting injured in early June, the Yankees on June 6th called up 29 year-old catcher Ali Sanchez who has 12 hits, one home run, five runs and seven RBIs for a .245 batting average in 49 at bats.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees were going huge in their search for a catcher as they inquired a few days ago about Baltimore Orioles three-time All Star catcher Adley Rutschman, who is hitting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs.
Three other catchers who the Yankees are rumored to be interested in are Minnesota Twins Ryan Jeffers (.294 batting average, nine home runs, 35 RBIs), Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds (.249 batting average, eight home runs, 29 RBIs.) and Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies who is hitting .254 with 31 home runs and 60 RBIs.
Yankees Need More Power At Third Base
Currently, the Yankees have a solid defensive third baseman in 31 year-old veteran Ryan McMahon. While he is a wizard with the glove, McMahon can be rather inconsistent with the bat.
Entering the season having mashed 20 or more home runs in six straight seasons, McMahon this year enters the final day of July with only nine home runs, 26 RBIs and a .210 batting average. While great defensively, he doesn’t provide that offensive punch needed at third in the Yankees lineup.
An offensive minded third baseman who would really help the Yankees is former Boston Red Sox and current San Francisco Giants third baseman/first baseman Rafael Devers who this year has produced 22 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .243 batting average.
Another third baseman capable of posting big numbers is Houston Astros Isaac Paredes who has 14 home runs, 43 runs scored and 58 RBIs along with a .254 average.
At the deadline, New York will also be looking to swing a deal for an experienced power bat such as Toronto Blue Jays veteran George Springer or according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz.
“The one name that has come up is Oneil Cruz,” Nightengale said. “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?”
You can bet that on Monday, August 3rd, Yankees fans will be closely watching in anticipation of the Bronx Bombers making a big deal to make them serious World Series contenders.
