MLB rumors: Yankees exploring another non-Cody Bellinger OF option

The Yankees are reportedly interested in Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson, who now appears to be on the trade block in St. Louis.

The Cardinals have accepted their status as sellers at the MLB trade deadline, which means the Yankees can now swoop in to pick up a player of their choice.

Well actually, that’s not strictly true. Nolan Arenado is not going to be included in the St. Louis fire sale.

Instead, the Yankees may have to be content with a different target: Dylan Carlson.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweeted the link to Carlson on Monday, not long after the Cardinals made it pretty clear that the 24-year-old was the odd man out in their outfield plans.

MLB Rumors: Yankees could pursue Dylan Carlson

Right now, the only outfield name most Yankees fans want to hear being linked to New York is Cody Bellinger, the former MVP who has regained his form with the Cubs.

On the plus side, Carlson is a more inspiring target than Rockies outfielder Randal Grichuk, who Feinsand linked to NY over the weekend.

Carlson would fill a need in the outfield with the ability to play right, left or center. As a switch hitter, he could also give the Yankees the lefty presence they need in the lineup.

It would be a more palatable move if Carlson could even slightly match Bellinger’s power. He’s slashing .237/.343/.367 this year with five home runs.

Still, he’d address issues in the Yankees lineup and has upside at his age.

St. Louis and New York are both at the bottom of their respective divisions, but their prospects for the rest of the year are drastically different. The Yankees still have hope of competing for a wild card spot, sitting just two games out.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, are 11 games out in the National League and have turned their sights firmly on acquiring pitching as sellers at the MLB trade deadline. So that’s what it would take for NY to pick up Carlson.