MLB rumors: Yankees plans for the trade deadline not set in stone
The New York Yankees are in a confusing situation. They are playing some horrendous baseball as of late, especially when they went 1-5 through their first two series after the All-Star break. Sure, they swept the Kansas City Royals, but that’s the Kansas City Royals. Even with the Yankees’ play and the fact they are sitting in last place in the AL East, they are still above .500 and in contention for a postseason berth.
Some Yankees fans want the team to buy at the trade deadline and go for it. Other fans want the team to sell to build towards the future, which they do need to do. So, what’s the plan? Even the Yankees don’t know.
New York Post columnist and MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote that while the Yankees want to buy at the deadline, they have decided against going for trades just yet. Specifically, Heyman writes that the Yankee’s higher-ups met recently and “understandably decided to remain in trade limbo for a few more days to see where they stand before making any big buys” before the deadline.
Note: this was written before the Yankees lost 9-3 to the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
Not exactly an ideal thing to hear if you are a Yankees fan wondering what the team plans to do with just a few days remaining until the deadline.
Heyman does note that if the team doesn’t fall too far back in the Wild Card standings, they would target an outfielder and a bullpen piece.
The Yankees desperately need a left fielder, as they have had nine different players man the position. Not having a consistent option at the corner outfield spot has hurt the Yankees, as they decided to punt on addressing the position this past offseason to the trade deadline.
As for options, Heyman lists Randal Grichuk of the Colorado Rockies, and Tyler O’Neill and Dylan Carlson of the St. Louis Cardinals as options to target for left field.
Heyman also notes that the Yankees don’t consider themselves sellers.
With the trade deadline set for Aug. 1, the Yankees only have a few days to come up with a plan on what to do. The Yankees do have a brutal stretch coming, as their next two series’ before the deadline are against the rival Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.