Yankees Prepare for Trade Deadline
The New York Yankees are actively preparing for the July 30th trade deadline. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Baltimore Orioles are expected to make a bigger splash at the trade deadline compared to the Yankees. While the Orioles have a strong farm system to acquire desired starters, the Yankees have multiple needs. The Yankees need 1-2 bullpen arms with swing-and-miss capabilities, potentially a starting pitcher, and an infielder, either at second base or third base. Rosenthal believes the Yankees will make a variety of moves, whereas the Orioles will make more impactful ones.
Yankees Pursue Relief Arms
Sources indicate that the Yankees are persistently pursuing major league relief arms from the Cincinnati Reds. Scouts from the Reds watched the Yankees-Rays series at Tropicana Field from July 9-11. The Reds have several solid veteran relievers on expiring deals and might seek a big-league piece or near MLB-ready player in exchange for a rental reliever. Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet would be a significant addition for the Yankees but would come at a high cost. The Orioles have more prospect capital to secure such deals.
Potential Acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that the Yankees have discussed acquiring Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., who they would use at second base if acquired. Recently, the Yankees won two out of three games against the Orioles at Camden Yards but missed sweeping due to a ninth-inning meltdown on Sunday. Currently, the Yankees are one game behind the Orioles in AL East standings. It is evident that GM Brian Cashman needs to make various moves by the trade deadline to improve their standing post-All-Star break.
Aaron Judge’s Performance
Aaron Judge has shown significant improvement over the past week. He had a notable series against the Detroit Tigers, going 5-for-10 against their starters. Despite his recent success, Judge is not fully satisfied and aims for even higher performance levels. His recent stats include a 147 wRC+ over the last seven days.
Nestor Cortes’ Home/Road Splits
Nestor Cortes has distinct home and road performance differences in early 2024. At Yankee Stadium, he has pitched into the seventh inning in all four outings. On the road, his ERA is significantly higher at 6.75. Cortes attributes his home success to the energetic crowd but acknowledges potential regression in these splits.
Juan Soto’s Clutch Performance
Juan Soto leads the Yankees in nearly every offensive category. He excels particularly with runners in scoring position, boasting a 1.300 OPS in such situations. Soto thrives on high-pressure at-bats and has been central to many key moments for the Yankees this season.
Spencer Jones’ Development
Spencer Jones, ranked as the Yankees’ #2 prospect, impressed during spring training and continues to develop well with Double-A Somerset. An offseason adjustment involving lowering his hands in his stance has improved his line drive rate and overall hitting mechanics. This change helps him keep balls off the ground and maximize damage with high exit velocities.
Injury Updates
The Yankees are dealing with multiple injuries as MLB Opening Day 2024 approaches. Key players affected include Gerrit Cole, who is out for the foreseeable future, Aaron Judge, suffering from an abdomen injury, and DJ LeMahieu, dealing with a bone bruise on his right foot. Yankees fans hope for a healthy lineup against the Houston Astros next Thursday, but recent updates suggest this might not be possible.
DJ LeMahieu’s Injury
Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported that LeMahieu did not push his footwork exercises in the outfield and was moving gingerly. Kuty described LeMahieu’s movements as quicker walking rather than jogging. This update comes less than 24 hours after LeMahieu told reporters he was “pretty much” ready for the start of the season and that it wouldn’t take much to get into regular-season form.
Impact of Potential Absence
Since joining the Yankees in 2019, LeMahieu has been a significant contributor with stats including 73 home runs, 276 RBIs, and a .285/.358/.439 slash line. His foot injury has limited him to only 29 plate appearances during spring training, resulting in modest performance metrics. If LeMahieu is unavailable for Opening Day, Oswaldo Cabrera is likely to start at third base. Cabrera’s last season stats include five home runs, 29 RBIs, and a .211 batting average across 330 plate appearances, with a .972 fielding percentage in over 112 innings at third base.
Gerrit Cole’s Injury Update
Gerrit Cole will not throw for 3-4 weeks due to elbow nerve inflammation and edema. Cole is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery. He has undergone an MRI, CT scan, X-rays, and further testing with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. The New York Post reported relatively good news from his visit with the surgeon, suggesting he might avoid surgery with rest, rehab, and conservative treatment. Cole had previously thrown two innings and 39 pitches in his spring debut on March 1 but hasn’t appeared in a game since then. Losing Cole would be a significant blow to the Yankees as they aim to return to the postseason after an 82-80 record in 2023.
Yankees’ Rotation Depth
The Yankees traded four pitchers for Juan Soto over the winter, including Michael King and depth starters Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez. A long-term injury to Cole could push the Yankees into the market for a starting pitcher. Reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell and former Yankee Jordan Montgomery are unsigned free agents who could be potential upgrades.
Other Injuries
Outfielder Aaron Judge underwent an MRI on his abs and is taking some time off before swinging a bat again. Tommy Kahnle is nearing the end of his rehab assignment and could return to the team this week, possibly activated on Wednesday. He has been dealing with shoulder inflammation since spring training. Kahnle’s rehab was slowed in April but has been progressing over the last two weeks. Expected activation is during a four-game home series against the Seattle Mariners.
Spring Training Highlights
The Yankees’ spring training is a week old with notable events such as Juan Soto’s first press conference and Aaron Boone’s commitment to winning the World Series after a poor last season. The team is much healthier compared to last year with fewer injuries reported so far. Key players like Rodón and LeMahieu arrived early to ensure they are healthy for camp. Aaron Judge mentioned that his toe ligament injury will require constant maintenance throughout his career but showed no decline in performance post-injury last season. The Yankees added center fielder Trent Grisham in the deal for Soto; Boone plans to use him strategically while also utilizing the DH spot more frequently for Judge.
Conclusion
The Yankees have had a busy week with trade deadline preparations, injury updates, and spring training highlights. As the team looks to improve its standing post-All-Star break, fans eagerly await the moves GM Brian Cashman will make to bolster the roster. With key players like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole working through injuries, the Yankees’ ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial for their success in the upcoming season.
