The Yankees have done a great job of growing their talent in-house as of late, but it’s time for Brian Cashman to swing a blockbuster trade.
The current edition of the New York Yankees aren’t the evil, free agency built team of 20 years ago. Instead, Brian Cashman has carefully gone about building the team internally. Manny Machado signifies the perfect opportunity for the Yankees to use some of that homegrown talent to bring another superstar to the Bronx.
A variety of reports are linking New York with a move for the Orioles shortstop, and Jim Bowden is even calling New York the “frontrunners.” Predictably, that’s spawned a ton of social media backlash calling the team MLB’s “evil empire.” Typically Cashman has railed against that idea, but it’s time for him to embrace the hate.
The Yankees biggest hole is in the starting rotation, but the market for aces hasn’t materialized. Overpaying for an older, average pitcher like Cole Hamels or J.A. Happ is the worst thing the team can do. Players like that just don’t move the needle for the Yankees in the long-term. A star like Machado can help position the team for deep playoff runs for multiple seasons in the future.
Machado is a veteran in terms of years of service, but it’s important to remember that he’s still just 25-years-old. We’re not talking about acquiring a player poised to enter his decline. The Yankees would be trading for a player squarely in his prime.
Even if he doesn’t improve an iota, he’s already an All-Star starter. He’s accomplished that by becoming one of the most feared sluggers in the game. Infielders that slash .309/.379/.555 with 21 home runs don’t become available very often. The strength of his offensive numbers is even more impressive when you consider the fact that he’s doing that with a cast of below-average hitters surrounding him in the Orioles’ order. Machado would arguably become the best hitter in a Yankees order that already features stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
Adding a transcendent player like Machado could be enough to help the Yankees catch the Red Sox for the AL East crown. They currently sit two games behind their arch rivals. Machado’s bat could easily be worth four or five wins down the stretch.
There are legitimate concerns about where Machado might fit into the defensive lineup, but that’s something Aaron Boone can figure out. When you get a chance to acquire a player of this caliber, you have to do what’s necessary to get the deal done. The Yankees should amass talent first, and ask questions later in this instance.
Next: Yankees are willing to make room for Machado
If the Yankees can acquire Machado without murdering the farm system and get assurances that he will stay for the long haul, it’s a move Cashman has to make. The chances of winning a World Series with this team, this season, are simply too great.