5 moves the Yankees should make at the MLB trade deadline

The New York Yankees are one piece away from becoming a World Series favorite. Here are five moves they should make before the MLB Trade Deadline.

The New York Yankees hold a four-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for the American League East, but that does not mean that they can afford to get complacent. Despite their 51-41 record entering play on Wednesday, the Yankees still have several areas on the roster that need improvement.

Starting pitching is one. The Yankees currently boast the 20th ranked earned run average in all of baseball, and sub-par performances from the aces of their staff are a large reason why. Injuries have not helped their cause either.

Middle infield has been another cause for concern. Aside from hitting 12 home runs, second baseman Stephen Drew has been underwhelming. He is currently hitting .179, and has grown to become a defensive liability in the field. Didi Gregorious has high potential at shortstop, but he simply does not bring much to the table for a 2015 playoff run.

And as great as Carlos Beltran has been over the course of his career, the value of an injury-prone 38-year old outfielder is simply not very high.

But will the Yankees step up and make a bold move?

Recent comments from general manager Brian Cashman lead us to believe that the team may remain quiet at the MLB trade deadline.

"“There is a strong possibility that there might not be anything that makes sense for us,” Cashman told ESPN. “I do like the chemistry in this clubhouse. I do like the personnel that we have. I recognized that we all have our flaws and defects and areas that could be better, but in some cases, you might not be able to address them because of availability just doesn’t exist. Or you may not be able to address them because you don’t want to step up and overpay to get them done.”"

The Yankees are easily the favorite to win the American League East, and such will likely remain true regardless of whether or not they make a move in the next week. Making the right trade, however, would secure their spot atop the division and set themselves up for playoff success.

Here are five moves that the Yankees should consider before the July 31st deadline.

Next: Acquire Johnny Cueto from the Reds