2024 Trade Deadline

So a serious question for those who understand these metrics that have seemingly become Boone's crutch. When he pinch hit Torres for Wells  which was a traditional righty/lefty thing even though as Bumper pointed the splits favored Wells against a LHP, was he following the book or going against it? 

Max, I'm just not sure how confident the Yankees are feeling about Holmes as the closer despite what they say and I think they might be looking to bring in an experienced closer to either supplant him or be an insurance policy. If Efross returns to form he will help but he's not a closer. Neely might eventually close but I'm not sure we want to start him in that role as we are fighting for the playoffs. I think there is a better than average chance we bring in a RP who has closing experience. 

Noetsi only cares about batting average.

I mentioned a few days ago that I think the Yankees should give both Effross and Neely a chance to Close. Of course that will depend if they pitch well in the late innings.

Opportunity?  He's outproducing both Yankee catchers this season. 

Staying healthy is certainly one of the issues…

With the Yankees limping into the season's traditional, if not mathematical, halfway point, the next destination is the trade deadline.  For those of us used to the old ways, the July 31 deadline is pretty much cast in stone.  There are no more "waiver trades" that can get you a good piece in August.  Let's examine each piece of the roster:

Starting Pitching (9)
Cole
Rodon
Cortes
Stroman
Gil
Schmidt (15 day DL)
Poteet (15 day DL)
Brubaker (60 day DL)
Beeter (minors 7 day DL)
Gomez (minors)

We have 10 "starters" on the roster but it's still a place we could look to upgrade.  Rodon has been downright terrible.  Cortes has been up and down based on his location in our outside of the Bronx.  Stroman has given us pretty much what we expect out of Stroman.

Upgrade needed: (1 starter).  Of course, with the current playoff format, about 25 teams think they're still "in it", so starting pitching will be expensive.

In house options:  Schmidt will be back in September, so he very well could be your third playoff starter if we make it that far.  Beeter and Brubaker are not 2024 options for a playoff rotation.  Wil Warren had a good last outing amid a bad campaign.  He may be a #5 option or long relief as the season goes along. 

Relief Pitching (15)

Burdi (60 day DL)
Cousins
Effross (60 day DL on rehab assignment)
Ferguson
Hamilton (15 day DL)
Hill
Holmes
Kahnle
Loaisaga (60 day DL)
Maciejewski
Marinaccio (minors)
Morris (minors)
Tonkin
Trivino (60 day DL)
Weaver

Fifteen relievers and nobody to close the game.  Maybe the silent assassin could step into that role, but realistically that ain't going to happen unless Holmes gets injured or completely implodes.

Upgrade needed (Closer, 7th inning type guy):  Once again, Blake has made crap into something pretty decent.  We're ok rolling with Hill and Tonkin in middle relief.  Kahnle has been mostly good after a rocky start (hopefully rust).  Weaver has been outstanding.

Internal options available:  If you upgrade at closer, Holmes upgrades that back of the pen in a new role.  Effross should also fortify the back end.  Neely is an option in the minors, but we won't see him until after 7/31 as they won't commit a roster spot to him until we know what happens at the trade deadline.  Marinaccio is not an upgrade over the guys in the role he'd have.  Hamilton may be an upgrade to the 6th/7th.  In theory, they might be able to use Gomez in a relief role to see if his stuff plays up there.

Catcher (5)

Trevino (10 day DL)
Wells
Rice
Narvaez
Ramirez

Needs:  None.

Obviously we have an embarrassment of riches here.  There is a concern about Trevino's arm but Wells has the opportunity now to show he can be the #1 catcher.  He's hit to a .921 OPS in the last 28 days, so his bat is more than adequate.  Although Ramirez might eventually be the better option, Narvaez earned his promotion and can be the defensive #2 guy with a little bit of a bat (at least this year).  I listed Rice as a catcher, though clearly he's our 1B for now.

Internal options available:  Ramirez has to learn to hit at AAA but the best internal option right now is the trade option.  Even with Trevino hurt, both Narvaez and Ramirez are prospects that could bring considerable interest in the trade market.  As an added bonus, they'll open up a 40 man spot if traded.

Infield (10)

Rice
Davis (10 day DL)
Rizzo (60 day DL)
Berti (60 day DL)
Vivas
Torres
Volpe
Cabrera
Peraza (minors)
LeMahieu 

Needs:  (Second Base, Third Base).  Gleyber has been bad in this first half.  We also could use some increased offensive output out of third base, but just as important, we need defense there.  I have a lot of respect for DJL as a player but he's lost a step defensively and, even though he had a good week of hitting singles, he's again regressed, and singles don't do the trick when you're also hitting into DPs because you've lost a step (or three) out of the box.

Internal options available:  Cabrera is a .650 OPS hitter and not a natural third-baseman, but I'd argue that right now he's better both offensively and defensively than DJL.  His best role is jack-of-all-trades and that's a valuable role, but right now, I've got to plug him in at third base every day.  Rice has basically eliminated the use for Davis, so he can be DFA'd as soon as he's over his man flu.  As far as an upgrade for Gleyber, Vivas is on the bench, but it's clear the Yankees don't see him in that role, as the O's threw 2 righties during this series and he remained on the pine.  Honestly, I think the best upgrade (internal or external) for Gleyber is for Gleyber to return to closer to 2022 or 2023 Gleyber.  I don't think the Yankees will risk trading him for the unproven Vivas, and quite frankly, no non-contender is going to be interested in getting him as a rental.

Outfield (6)

Judge
Soto
Verdugo
Grisham
Jones
Pereira (minors full season DL)
Dominguez (minors 7 day DL)

Needs:  5th outfielder with speed.

Internal options available:  As much as Verdugo is making me angry this afternoon, there's not an upgrade available for him that you won't have to pay a fortune for in trade.  We're getting plenty of production out of the outfield.  Grisham has performed well enough in his role.  I'm honestly not sure what Jones' role is on this team; yes his stats look decent for a backup, but honestly he's had so little playing time that the one game where he went 3 for 5 skews those stats.  They do have Greg Allen stashed at AAA and not on the 40 man, but he's been out for a month with an "unspecified injury".  He could be an option for that speed guy you want on the bench in the playoffs, but I have no idea what his injury is.

Obviously the biggest upgrade would be the return of Dominguez.  The Yankees' timeline puts him in about mid-August for a return.

Designated Hitter (1)

Stanton (15 day DL)

Needs:  None

We all know Giancarlo isn't what Giancarlo was.  However, he had 18 home runs and was providing plenty of production and protection in the lineup.  You're not going to upgrade his spot in trade, especially since he's due back before the trade deadline.


So, who is available to trade:

There are certainly a number of factors when considering trades.  There are both impact trades and depth trades.  When you're dealing with non-contenders, you're probably not going to offload some of your "junk"; they want prospects with team control.  Among names that I'd say are available as prospects to trade:  Beeter, Warren, Jones (only for the right deal, not a rental), Peraza, Pereira, Carr, Vivas, Gomez, Ramirez or Narvaez (not both), Messinger, Vrieling, and pretty much anyone else outside the top 25.  Although Neely is listed at 24 on our prospect list, his immediate value puts him in the no trade list for me.

One interesting piece that I think could be of use in a trade to a potential "contender" is Marinaccio.  Interestingly enough, I could see him as a potential need for the team across the way in Queens.  One of those "swap two players that need a new environment" trades might be helpful for both teams.  I could see the Yankees having interest in Josh Walker if they feel Blake could work his magic with him.  Walker's biggest strength, ironically, had been his control, but that fell off the map in 2022.  It would basically be trading for a project, but it worked with Tonkin.