Cardinals Rumors: Surprise extension, Dylan Carlson-Yankees link, Rays trade idea
By Mark Powell
Cardinals Rumors: Yankees are in on Dylan Carlson
It’s no secret — Dylan Carlson has struggled this season, decreasing his trade value in the process. Carlson is hitting just .233 with five homers, 23 RBI, 25 runs and a .689 OPS in 64 games. As a corner outfielder with decent defensive ability, much of Carlson’s strengths are meant to come from his bat. However, that bat has remained silent for much of the last two seasons.
The Cards did not want to flirt with a Carlson trade at last year’s deadline — even in reported talks for Juan Soto. While that report is disputed, it speaks to how highly St. Louis valued Carlson and his remaining seasons of control. That won’t help them at the trade deadline this season, though.
Carlson to the Yankees makes a lot of sense for several reasons, especially with the injury to Aaron Judge. Acquiring Carlson would allow the Yankees to prepare for 2024 while also improving their big-league club this season in hopes of making the playoffs. Brian Cashman isn’t good at admitting defeat in the biggest baseball market in the world, and he’s not about to do so this year when the Yankees are within striking distance of the AL Wild Card.
Adam Weinrib of Yanks Go Yard named Carlson as one of his Yankees trade targets to avoid just this morning:
"“Technically, buying low on Carlson wouldn’t be the worst long-term experiment. Only problem is the Cardinals aren’t giving off an air of desperation to part with him. The cost might not be all that low here…You want to give up top talent in an effort to lead the charge in Carlson’s reclamation project? Wait until the offseason. It’s unlikely Sean Casey and Co. will be able to implement changes and alter the Cardinals outfielder’s life by mid-August anyway.”"
Cashman doesn’t want to wait.