Just as quickly as the New York Yankees pulled away in the American League East, they’ve now plummeted down the standings, sitting three games behind the Baltimore Orioles and just 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, who are in third place.
The Yankees’ Urgent Need for Wins as the All-Star Break Approaches
The Yankees need to string together some wins ahead of the All-Star break, but fortunately, General Manager Brian Cashman will have an opportunity to address key needs by the deadline in late July. While we could spend all day analyzing each individual player who is underperforming in the batting order, it’s clear that several veterans are struggling to carry their weight and keep pace.
Spotlight on Gleyber Torres’ Struggles
Gleyber Torres stands out as one of the team’s more disappointing contributors this season. The 27-year-old has everything to lose in a contract year, hitting .223/.397/.344—all career lows. Although he has the second half of the season to turn things around, if Cashman finds a competent second baseman who can offer better defense, he shouldn’t hesitate to make a move.
Infield Challenges and Limited Options
Ideally, the Yankees would secure a new infielder by the deadline, but options are few and far between. Currently, the Bombers are relying on DJ LeMahieu to manage the hot corner, and he’s hitting a paltry .194/.288/.223. LeMahieu has been completely ineffective in terms of the team’s offensive output, representing more of a liability than anything else.
GM Cashman Addresses the Team’s Struggles
Cashman finally spoke to the media on Tuesday regarding the team’s recent collapse, emphasizing that their hot start has helped them survive this cold stretch. He acknowledged that this downward trend has lasted longer than anticipated, which suggests he will be active at the trade deadline in a few weeks.
“Thankfully, we got out of the gates really strong. Hopefully, that cushion will allow us to work through this — hopefully sooner than later, because it’s gone long enough. But it’s been a tough stretch for us.”
Via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com
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Recent Acquisitions and Future Considerations
The team recently acquired JD Davis to provide some support at first and third base, but the veteran is hitting just .221/.293/.346 this year, including four homers and six RBIs. He’s not likely to significantly impact the team, but Cashman did suggest the team has “areas to improve upon” and that he will be “open-minded to a lot of different things.”