Time to panic: 3 Yankees trade assets they should sell for 2024 reboot
By Scott Rogust
The New York Yankees have been putrid enough since returning to the All-Star break that they should consider selling at the trade deadline. Here are three players they should deal for a decent return.
There was reason for skepticism about the New York Yankees‘ chances to contend for a World Series this year. Yes, they did retain Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, but it was the relatively same roster from the 2022 campaign returning. The very roster that couldn’t buy a hit throughout their run to the American League Championship Series. Once Judge suffered a torn ligament in his right big toe back in June, it may as well have been the proverbial nail in the coffin for the Yankees.
The Yankees have gone 15-21 since Judge was sidelined, as of the morning of July 19. The hitting is virtually non-existent, their once mighty bullpen is struggling, and there are numerous mind-numbing errors, whether in the field or on the base paths. Yet, manager Aaron Boone is still preaching patience even though more gasoline has been poured on the fire. Why is that? Because the team is still not that far out of a postseason spot.
On Wednesday night, the Yankees fell into an early 6-0 hole in their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. Starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, who they signed this offseason, struggled early. The bats once again couldn’t do much damage. Franchy Cordero hit a huge double but negated it after running into an easy out at third base despite a ground ball being hit right in front of him.
With. this, the Yankees faithful are urging the team to sell at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. If they were to do, which is entirely doubtful given how much faith Boone, general manager Brian Cashman, and owner Hal Steinbrenner have in the team, here are three names they should flip to get a decent return to help retool for 2024.
Yankees trade assets they should sell for 2024 reboot, No. 3: Isiah Kiner-Falefa, INF
In waiting for Anthony Volpe to get ready for the majors, the Yankees brought in Isiah Kiner-Falefa to be their stopgap shortstop in that fateful trade with the Minnesota Twins that also brought Josh Donaldson to the Bronx. Kiner-Falefa, who was a Gold Glove winner, struggled defensively at the position during the 2022 season, which prompted the team to have a revolving door of different options in the postseason.
This year? Kiner-Falefa has thrived as the team’s utility player. He has played center field, left field, right field, third base, second base, and shortstop. He committed just three errors on the year, one each at right, center, and third base.
In 74 games played, Kiner-Falefa recorded a .251 batting average, a .309 on-base percentage, a .369 slugging percentage, five home runs, 24 RBI, 29 runs scored, and 51 hits in 203 at-bats.
In a recent column, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal noted that the Yankees may try to cut the payroll so they can get under the highest luxury-tax threshold in the form of moving on from impending free agents. Kiner-Falefa is one of them, as he’s owed $2 million at the trade deadline. Considering teams’ needs for depth across the team, Kiner-Falefa could provide just that.