The Yankees could use additional help at the trade deadline.
With Aaron Judge out for an extended period, the Yankees have been relying on a cast of misfit characters. The results, especially offensively, have been brutal. If not for the pitching staff carrying the club over the past few weeks, New York might be on the outside of the three American League wild-card spots. But the Yankees are firmly in the mix.
Getting into the playoffs isn’t ever the main goal for the Yankees though. It’s always about winning a title. To win their first championship since 2009, the Yankees will likely need to be active at the deadline.
We thought it would be a fun exercise to explore the different kinds of deals the Yankees could make to improve their chances of winning a World Series. They could use another outfielder (preferably a left-handed hitter), a starting pitcher and a reliever. Most of the deals we came up with here are centered around those types of players. After proposing seven hypothetical Yankees trades, we asked former general manager Jim Bowden to weigh in on them. Let’s get to it.
All statistics are updated through Thursday’s games.
The Yankees have to decide whether they want to extend free-agent-to-be Harrison Bader this offseason. If he’s in their long-term plans, maybe this isn’t the best deal. But if Bader is too injury-prone for their liking as he heads toward his 30s, Nootbaar brings exit velocity, a good eye, and solid enough defense so he could shift to left field this season and head back to center field next year. Helps, also, that Nootbaar is under team control through 2027 and is a lefty hitter. But to get a young player with Nootbaar’s skills, it’s going to hurt. Cortes is a Yankees fan-favorite, and the club could look to upgrade its rotation again in the offseason. Thorpe, 22, is a former second-round pick with good command and middling stuff. Dunham, 25, could become a third or fourth outfielder with just enough ability on both sides of the ball, and he’ll be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December. — Kuty
Bowden says: I absolutely hate this trade idea. I think Nootbaar is a fourth outfielder, not an everyday outfielder. He’s a below-average defender in center field and isn’t going to hit enough to play a corner on a regular basis. I realize everyone loves his exit velocity, makeup and competitiveness. But I just don’t think he’s going to hit enough. He’s a career .240 hitter in his first 680 plate appearances and he profiles as a 15- to 18-home run hitter, but has never hit more than 14 in a season in his pro career. Also, I view Cortes as a solid mid-rotation starter, and being left-handed and under 30 years old gives him more value. In fact, I wouldn’t even do Cortes-for-Nootbaar straight-up.
Yankees get: DH Joc Pederson and cash
The Yankees operated all offseason like they were avoiding the fourth luxury tax threshold. If they were to acquire someone like Pederson, they would likely require the other team to eat some of his remaining contract. (He signed the one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer.) In exchange for the Giants doing so, the Yankees would part with one of their better pitching prospects in Warren. Pederson’s bat would play perfectly in Yankee Stadium, plus he’s had World Series success and come up clutch in big moments. The downside is he’s just been a DH this season. That’s a problem because Giancarlo Stanton is mostly a DH, though he can play some in the outfield. Though if the Yankees could add Pederson’s bat, I think they’d figure out the best alignment. — Kirschner
Bowden says: This is a solid trade idea for both teams. It might actually be a slight overpay for the Yankees but probably would be worth it to them. Pederson, thanks to advice from Barry Bonds, has learned how to pull the ball on inside pitches and would be extremely dangerous playing half his games at Yankee Stadium with the short confines of right field. Pederson hit 23 home runs last season in just 380 at-bats and has eight this year in 147 at-bats. He’s more of a platoon player but the fit works. He’s not that bad in left field and he and Stanton could share DH and a corner outfield spot until Judge comes back. I think parting with Warren is a bit of an overpay but to get the Giants to make this deal while in a pennant race themselves they’d have to “win” the trade. This trade helps both sides enough for both to pull the trigger.
If the Yankees don’t believe in Jake Bauers or Billy McKinney as rest-of-the-season options, and if the Cubs become sellers, Bellinger makes sense for the Yankees. He’s a lefty bat. He hits the ball in the air. He’s played in two big markets (Chicago, Los Angeles) and he’s finally healthy. He’s an above-average defender in center field and right field, though the Yankees would likely ask him to shift to left field. He’d be owed the remainder of his $12.5 million salary for this season with a $5 million buyout for next year. This package sends the Cubs a trio of Yankees prospects: Beeter and Warren — both nearly major-league-ready — would be the headliners with Florial added to sweeten the deal. Warren, 24, may be the Yankees’ best pitching prospect, with mid-rotation upside thanks to his fastball-curveball combo. Beeter, 24, was acquired when the Yankees sent Joey Gallo to the Dodgers, and he has impressed with his mid-90s fastball and a pair of breaking pitches. Florial, 25, is a former top prospect who would be a high-level defensive center fielder right now and has put up impressive power numbers this season at Triple A. But he strikes out way too much, and when the Yankees designated him for assignment earlier this season, he went unclaimed. — Kuty
Bowden says: Since I already endorsed the Warren-for-Pederson trade, let’s make this deal with the Cubs, too, but make it just Beeter and Florial for Bellinger. Florial is having a terrific season in Triple A, slashing .294/.383/.604 with 10 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 46 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. It’s clear the Yankees don’t believe in him and remain concerned about his swing-and-miss. They already have Bader, the impending free agent, who is a much better overall player. From the Cubs’ perspective, Bellinger will be a free agent after this season, and getting Florial (whom they’d control through 2028) to compete with rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong in the future makes sense, especially with Beeter as part of the deal. However, keep in mind, like the Giants in the above trade proposal, the Cubs are in postseason contention and would be hesitant to make this move. But I think there would be a place for both Bellinger and Pederson on the Yankees, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Judge and with so many of their older veteran players struggling in the first half of the season.
White Sox get: OF Everson Pereira and 2B Jared Serna
Giolito, 28, might be the most talented starting pitcher on the trade market — lots of strikeouts, good command, a former Cy Young Award candidate. But he’s a complicated trade target because he’d be a half-season rental. The Yankees gave up well-regarded outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara when they traded with the Cubs for a half-season of Anthony Rizzo in 2021. Pereira, 22, is a bit older than Alcantara, now 20, but he’s got a loud bat and a strong corner outfield arm. Serna, 21, has had a breakout year at Low-A Tampa, showing better line-drive ability to go with his impressive strike zone control, but he’s eligible for the upcoming Rule 5 draft and the Yankees likely won’t have room on their 40-man roster for someone so far from the majors. — Kuty
Bowden says: I definitely like the idea of trading for Giolito, but I don’t think the Yankees’ farm system can match what the Reds’, Diamondbacks’ and Dodgers’ systems can dangle in front of Chicago. I think the Yankees will fall short on what they’re willing to offer for him compared to the competition, especially if Giolito is the top starting pitcher traded at the deadline.
The Yankees’ on-base percentage is dreadful. McCutchen, the former Yankee, would help solve that problem. He ranks in the top 10 in MLB in OBP at .395 and has been one of the most productive outfielders in baseball this season. Because he’s a rental, it shouldn’t take too much to acquire him. Worth noting: After McCutchen left the Yankees in 2018, he spoke out against the team’s hair policy. He’d have to be OK with conforming if traded back. In this deal, the Yankees would part with Brito, who has seen some action in the Bronx this season but is still a few years away from potentially being a trustworthy starter. The Pirates also would get Chaparro, a slugger who’s likely a DH at the major-league level. The Yankees have plenty of those players on the roster. — Kirschner
Bowden says: I’ve always loved Cutch and am not opposed to the Yankees reuniting with him, especially if they planned to platoon him with someone like Pederson. That said, I am opposed to trading Brito for him — even straight-up; I’d give the righty some more time to develop. If Chaparro and another mid-level-type prospect could land McCutchen, I would have interest if I’m the Yankees. But I also won’t be surprised if McCutchen finishes his career where it started, in Pittsburgh, and ends up staying put. He’s a fan favorite and recently publicly voiced his desire to remain with the Pirates.
The Nationals’ representative in the All-Star Game will likely be Candelario, who’s been one of the best third basemen in the National League this season. Third base has been such a weakness for the Yankees that Josh Donaldson and DJ LeMahieu have been benched over the past week as they work to rediscover their swings. A potential issue in trading for the switch-hitting Candelario is it might only work if Donaldson is ultimately DFA’d. Even then, the Yankees could use his roster spot to call up Oswald Peraza instead of trading for a third baseman. For the Nationals, acquiring as much young talent as possible should be the goal. They would get Cabrera, who can play all over the field; a lottery ticket in Serna, who just returned from a shoulder injury this week; and Weissert, who has electric stuff but needs to work on his command. — Kirschner
Bowden says: This trade works for both sides. Candelario has been the Nationals’ second-best position player after outfielder Lane Thomas this season and has put together a nice bounce-back year. He’s only two years removed from leading the majors with 42 doubles. This year, he’s hit 26 doubles and 10 home runs with 38 RBIs in 289 at-bats. Donaldson looks done to me. LeMahieu looks like age and decline have arrived. This trio of players heading to Washington have solid value and I still think Cabrera, 24, has the upside of being an everyday player.
White Sox get: RHP Greg Weissert, RHP Luis Gil and RHP Carlos Lagrange
Forget for a moment that Judge once put Kelly in a headlock during an on-field brawl with the Red Sox in 2018. The righty reliever has been excellent with the White Sox this year, putting up a ton of strikeouts (11.5 K/9) with uncharacteristically low walk totals (2.5 BB/9). The 35-year-old will be a free agent after this season with a $1 million buyout of his $9.5 million team option for 2024. Weissert has big stuff but the 28-year-old has struggled to get consistent time in the majors. Gil, 25, likely won’t pitch in the majors this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in 2022, but some believe he has late-inning reliever upside. Lagrange, 20, is a 6-foot-7 lottery ticket with a big-time fastball who hasn’t pitched above complex ball yet. — Kuty
Bowden says: This trade offer seems like a box of baseballs, a rosin bag and a bat doughnut weight for Kelly, which certainly works for the Yankees. However, can the White Sox ask for lefty Brock Selvidge instead and, if needed, throw another A-ball fringe prospect back into the deal to make it work?
(Top photo of Cody Bellinger: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
"trade" - Google News
June 30, 2023 at 04:00PM
https://ift.tt/79czyCm
What could Yankees get at trade deadline? Jim Bowden weighs 7 hypothetical deals - The Athletic
"trade" - Google News
https://ift.tt/d6KpRq9
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar