Fansided

5 moves the Yankees should make at the MLB trade deadline

By Josh Criswell

Apr 29, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) looks on in the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) looks on in the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 20, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce hits a ground rule double against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce hits a ground rule double against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

The reasoning behind trading for Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is simple; the New York Yankees need a reliable left-handed bat in the outfield.

The Reds have the potential to be the biggest sellers at the MLB Trade Deadline. Making the playoffs is a long shot at this point in the season, and they have several talented players that contenders like the Yankees would be willing to unload young prospects to acquire.

Aside from Johnny Cueto, Bruce is probably the most valuable trade asset on Cincinnati’s roster. Despite a less than desirable .251 career batting average, his consistent power-hitting ability makes him a player that would give the Yankees lineup a dangerous bat in the outfield.

Bruce is a perennial 30-home run threat that had belted at least 20 bombs in every season of his career before injuries hindered his 2014 campaign. He also provides decent speed on the base paths, and is a respectable fielder that has committed only one error so far this season.

A trade for the the right fielder will certainly require sending prospects to the Reds, with middle infielder Rob Refsnyder once again being the most logical candidate. Bruce would not require the ransom that a trade for Cueto would, however, and at 28-years old, he still has plenty of baseball ahead of him.

The fact that he has several years of his prime left would help ease the pain of potentially losing a top prospect. It would also allow the Yankees to build for the future, while improving themselves significantly in the present.

Next: Acquire DJ LeMahieu from the Rockies

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