Yankees starting to narrow down outfield targets
Brian Cashman and the Yankees have swung two pitching trades today, but now their attention has turned to three potential outfield additions.
Plenty of Yankees fans are hoping to see Brian Cashman swing a deal for an All-Star before the trade deadline arrives, but that’s very unlikely. That doesn’t mean the New York front office is done though. Cashman and company are hard at work looking for the right outfielder to add to the roster.
As the hours until the deadline tick down, the Yankees are starting to narrow down their list of targets. The three most prominent outfielders being linked with a move to the Bronx at the moment are Curtis Granderson, Cameron Maybin, and Andrew McCutchen.
The rationale for asking Granderson is pretty obvious. He has a history of playing well in New York for both the Yankees and the Mets. He isn’t the player he used to be, but he’s still capable of hitting for power from the left side of the plate. His swing is tailor-made for the short porch in Yankee Stadium.
Sources: #Yankees, #Phillies, #Indians have shown interest in Andrew McCutchen, as #SFGiants consider deals involving their pending free agents. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018
Prying Maybin away from the Marlins is a more interesting proposition. He’s almost exclusively a singles hitter at this point in his career, but he’s still got excellent speed. That allows him to provide serious defensive value for his ballclub. He’s produced a WAR of 1.2 this season despite slashing .249/.337/.337. He won’t do anything to replace Aaron Judge’s production at the plate, but he can give the team a boost in the field.
McCutchen is the real potential prize of the group. He isn’t the player he was back when he was carrying the Pirates every season, but he’s still a useful player for the Giants. He’s slashing .253/.348/.405 in 383 at bats on the season. He’s making $14.75 million this season, but he’ll be a free agent in the winter. McCutchen would likely be a rental for the Yankees.
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It’s not a certainty that Cashman will be able to swing a deal for an outfielder before the deadline arrives, but if he does, it will likely be one of these three targets. All have the ability to help New York as the postseason nears, but none is the difference maker Yankees fans are dreaming about.