Yankees expected to add at the trade deadline

With the Yankees still mulling over a team that’s toiled in last place, there’s plenty of debate regarding whether the Yankees would choose to buy or sell at the deadline. As we near the August 1st deadline, the Yankees have picked a direction. While they face an ever-growing reality that they’ll miss the playoffs, rival executives are under the impression that long-time GM Brian Cashman will buy at this year’s deadline according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.

While names like Juan Soto have been floated around, the sheer glutton of Wild Card hopefuls and lack of top-end rental talent has created a seller’s market, which brings into question how the Yankees will be able to improve a lineup that’s struggled to put runs on the board. Names like Cody Bellinger, Jeimer Candelario, and Jordan Hicks are rentals the Yankees are eyeing at the top of the market and supplemental bats such as Seth Brown and Randal Grichuk have been mentioned as possibilities as well.

Is it Too Little Too Late for the Yankees?

It’s clear that the Yankees are in need of offense, ranking in the bottom half of the league in OPS, wRC+, and Runs Scored. It isn’t due to a lack of financial investments, with the Yankees having over $155 million invested in their position players, the highest total in the sport. Gerrit Cole’s put together a Cy Young season and the bullpen has done a stellar job while managing huge injuries, but familiar faces on the team haven’t been themselves in this extended drought.

Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo have failed to live up to their pre-season and 2022 billings, mustering pitiful OPS numbers since the start of June. In Stanton’s case, he’s been a below-average bat all season, and the Yankees might be stuck with a DH who not only struggles with staying healthy but also can’t hit enough to be an everyday DH. The Yankees will look in the outfield market to fix the LF position, one that’s netted them the 27th worst wRC+ in baseball since 2021.