The New York Yankees are feeling pretty decent right now after their recent 5-1 stretch. That stretch was much needed as the bombers looked horrendous for much of the last month. Fans began to grow increasingly frustrated with the struggling team who fell to fourth place for a time.
The Yankees recent stretch has everyone feeling a little better, but there’s still a ways to go before we start feeling good about this ballclub. As of this morning, the bombers are still in 3rd place in the division. If the season ended today, they’d be going home.
Starting tonight, The Kansas City Royals are coming to New York for a three-game series. The Royals are currently 32-38 so this looks like it could be another great opportunity for the Yankees to pickup another series victory as they try to chip away at the division.
While a focus will certainly be on the games against the Royals, I can’t help but think that Brian Cashman and his team might do some scouting this week. Perhaps, the Yankees could also do a little talking with Dayton Moore and the Royals front office.
Is a Yankees and Royals trade in the cards?
It’s no secret that there are holes with this Yankees team. The club needs a little help as they gear up towards the second half of the season. There are still big questions in the outfield and the starting rotation.
There are also questions at first base with Luke Voit’s inability to stay on the field this season. The Royals do not look like a team that will make a run for the playoffs. You could see them sell off some pieces at the deadline as they prep for the future.
With that, the Yankees could take advantage. A couple of names that were being whispered about earlier in the season were Danny Duffy and Andrew Benintendi. Duffy is having a career season on the mound with a 1.94 ERA. However, recent injuries have given teams pause on acquiring him.
Duffy is set to be a free agent after the season so if he can come back healthy, he could be an option for the Yankees before the deadline. Benintendi would help the Yankees in the outfield and on the left side of the plate. However, a recent crack to his rib also might take him off the table.
Other trade options
Another name being floated around is Michael Taylor. Taylor is also set to be a free agent after the season and would by far be the cheapest acquisition the Yankees could make from Kansas City.
Taylor could help the bombers out in the outfield given all the issues the team has had there. A name that has been floated around for the last couple of years is Whit Merrifield. Merrifield can play all around the infield and the outfield.
He’s led the majors in hits a couple of times and would be a major acquisition for the Yankees. However, Dayton Moore has said over the last couple of years that he doesn’t want to part with Merrifield as he sees Whit as a guy to build around for the future.
Mike Minor could be a guy the Yankees look at for the rotation and Carlos Santana could be another name to watch. There’s no smoke around any of these players right now, but these are all potential targets depending on what Brian Cashman decides