MLB Rumors: Aggressive Astros, Orioles buzz, Yankees selling

MLB Rumors: Yankees’ recent struggles could turn them into conservative sellers

As the trade deadline began closing in over the last few weeks, it was pretty clear the Yankees would be buying at the deadline. They were seeing Aaron Judge return from the injured list and needed to add pieces around him to rejuvenate their roster and push them towards the AL Wild Card. This was the belief in the New York media, as well as throughout most of the baseball world. But life comes at you fast and the Yankees have struggled mightily lately, potentially changing their deadline plans right before our very eyes.

After a 5-1 loss to the Rays on Monday, the Yankees fell to 55-51. That’s good for last place in the AL East and 10 games behind the first-place Orioles. Not only that, but they also sit 3.5 games out of the final wild card spot. Their playoff odds have dropped to 23.3 percent according to FanGraphs. With them missing out on Jeimer Candelario amongst others, they could turn into conservative sellers at the deadline.

New York has players like Luis Severino, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Harrison Bader on expiring contracts that they could deal around the league and receive a bit of a return, rather than losing these players in free agency. Seeing the Yankees sell may not be the most likely turn of events, but Andy Martino sees it as a real possibility.