The New York Yankees could use a bit more offensive prowess to help skipper Aaron Boone capitalize on his star-studded roster. Every season, it seems they need more talent via the trade deadline to bolster the squad, which is unacceptable given the Yankees have the highest payroll in baseball.
However, this is an unfortunate reality with the team, and there are players who will be available at the deadline to inquire about.
Most recently, the Yankees fell to the Minnesota Twins with closer Aroldis Chapman giving up two homers in the ninth inning to blow the save.
Normally, Chapman wouldn’t be this inefficient, but the MLB is cracking down on using substances to increase spin-rate and velocity, so whether or not this has anything to do with his performance, it definitely is odd timing.
Let’s take a look at a few players who could add value to the Yankees’ offense and provide a spark moving forward.
Three players the Yankees could trade for:
1.) Adam Frazier
One player, the Yankees, could consider is Adam Frazier, currently featuring on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-handed batter is traditionally a second baseman and can hold it down in the outfield, where the Yankees have been thin at times. He’s earning just $4.3 million this season and is currently hitting .324 with two homers and 24 RBIs. As a solid contact hitter, he can get on base sufficiently with the Yankees and drive in runners in scoring position. That has been the Yankees kryptonite this year, failing to drive in RISP.
2.) Joey Gallo
Another solid fit would be Joey Gallo, who currently plays for the Texas Rangers. Another lefty who can play an outfield role, the 27-year-old, is hitting .207 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs. He currently has a 32.3% strikeout rate, and while he doesn’t offer much in terms of contact hitting, he is a proficient home run hitter, which fits the Yankees’ mold perfectly. He is earning just $6.2 million this year, and the Yankees have been enamored by him in the past.
3.) Ketel Marte
One player who has been connected to the Yankees regularly over the past few weeks is Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have lost 19 consecutive road games and have the worst record in baseball, so they might be looking to sell a few players to acquire prospects. If the Yankees are willing to listen, Marte is currently hitting .350 with four homers and 14 RBIs over 109 plate appearances. A solid sample size to consider, representing an adequate contact hitter with plus defense.
Marte offers a few different positives, including being a switch hitter, premium athlete, and can play second base and shortstop.