The Yankees have the luxury this year of approaching the trade deadline with an eye on what will help them win in October, not what will get them there.
That’s why people on the team are pointing out the need for a right-handed power reliever to complement it Clay Holmes at the back of the bullpen, and a lefty to remove the left-handed hitters at the top.
It’s too early to tell how the Yankees will add to their infield corners. That will depend on whether Anthony Rizzo and/or DJ LeMahieu shows signs of life in the coming weeks.
Holmes was very effective, pitching to a 1.27 ERA and saving 18 games. But as a sinkerballer, he throws on contact. Ideally, administrator Aaron Boone would also have a swing-and-miss guy for high-leverage spots in October, especially in the middle of innings with runners on base.
It’s not out of the question that Cy Young could be a candidate Luis Gil will fill that role in the postseason. Although the Yankees have not placed an innings limit on Gil upon his return from Tommy John surgery, they will monitor him closely to protect his health. Perhaps timing will see Gil offer limited but strong innings in the playoffs.
That possibility shouldn’t stop the Yankees from pursuing a worthy reliever at the deadline. The moonshot is Oakland’s flamethrower Mason Miller. The Yankees would love Miller and his 105-mph fastball (duh; who wouldn’t), but consider me skeptical that they would trade a huge prospect for his five-plus years of control. First responders generally don’t get the kind of award that Oakland should be within its rights to demand.
The Yankees’ professional scouts and analysts excel at providing pitching to the pitching coach Matt Blake Lower profile relievers, like Holmes, with significant upside. It’s easier to imagine them targeting a few pitchers who aren’t top-of-mind with fans and reporters.
It would be interesting to see what Blake and company would do with it Jorge Lopez, recently released by the Mets due to a glove throwing incident. Lopez has a ’90s sinker and is known as a good person who can get emotional. The Yankees have a strong clubhouse culture that could help him thrive. Boone and Captain Aaron Judge knows how to absorb all types of personalities.
That’s just my thought though; As of Sunday, the Yanks had shown no interest in Lopez.
As for left-handers: no disrespect Victor Gonzalez And Caleb Ferguson, evaluators tend to rank those pitchers as the second lefty in an ideal bullpen. Neither has completely replaced what the Yankees had in recent seasons Wanda Peralta.
It’s too early in the expanded playoff era to identify many sellers, but a few left-handers who could become available are St. Louis’ Jan Koning And JoJo RomeroSan Francisco Taylor Rogers and that of Tampa Bay Garrett Cleavering. Miami’s Tanner Scott and Colorados Jalen Beeks are there others that are expected to be addressed.
At this stage, however, it’s more about identifying the types of players the Yankees and other buyers will target rather than targeting specific names.
The Yankees could still choose two different types in the infield. If they determine that LeMahieu or Rizzo can still contribute, they can look for a versatile utility man who can complement both. The Mets’ Jeff McNeil is a good example, but it’s hard to see the Yankees targeting him specifically (people around the league are seeing McNeil’s bombastic responses to disappointing at-bats, and he’s not offering any production right now anyway).
If Rizzo, who was benched in Sunday’s series finale against the Dodgers, doesn’t improve, the Yanks will face a more dramatic decision. Would they actually cut the veteran and pursue an everyday first baseman? Pete Alonso?
It’s too early to tell. At this stage, the need for two specific types of relievers has come into clearer focus.
