The New York Yankees have an opportunity to put together one of the most elite batting orders in baseball, but it will come at a cost. The Bombers have been spending an excessive amount of money for years to reach the World Series, and they have been overwhelmed by teams with far fewer salary allocations, like the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, general manager Brian Cashman once again has an open checkbook to acquire star players like Carlos Correa or even Matt Olson in a prospective deal with the Oakland Athletics. This projected lineup showcases a group of players with plenty of experience and consistency at the plate.
In the case of Olson, who bats 2nd in this scenario, the Athletics trade him away for prospects and starting-level talent to smooth out their books.
Andy Martino of SNY stated that the A’s are almost certainly trading Matt Olson; it’s a matter of to whom.
Projected Yankees’ 2022 batting order:
- DJ LeMahieu
- Matt Olson
- Carlos Correa
- Aaron Judge
- Giancarlo Stanton/Joey Gallo
- Aaron Hicks
- Gary Sanchez
- Gio Urshela
At first glance, this order has World Series written all over it, barring injury. When you have sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton batting 4th and 5th, you’re almost guaranteed success. Last season, the Yankees had issues finding the right spot for Gleyber Torres, who suffered through injuries and inconsistencies at the plate. Having DJ LeMahieu back from a sports hernia, Olson in the two-hole, and Carlos Correa 3rd would give the Bombers a fantastic on-base percentage to lead off. This would give Judge and Stanton the luxury of batting in these players in the slugger slots.
Beyond Stanton, the Yankees have switch-hitting centerfielder Aaron Hicks, who is making a return from a wrist injury. They have Gary Sanchez at catcher but are also considering bringing in another player to complete, and Gio Urshela, who is an above-average defender and consistent contact hitter in the eight-hole.
The DH spot can be interchangeable — the Yankees have plenty of talent to consider. If they retain Luke Voit as a reserve first baseman, given he isn’t included in a trade, he can fill that spot reliably. They also have Joey Gallo, who will likely feature in the outfield unless he’s traded. That would place Stanton in the DH role.
However, if the Yankees can’t make the postseason and provide a significant push with this level of talent, it might be time to move on from Cashman. Of course, the starting pitching rotation is also in a state of purgatory, but reports have indicated the team is intrigued by veteran starter Justin Verlander.