Yankees Predicted to Be MLB Trade Deadline Biggest Losers

Yankees Predicted to Be MLB Trade Deadline Biggest Losers image

The New York Yankees are casting a wide net ahead of the MLB trade deadline, hunting for upgrades at third base, in the rotation, and in the bullpen.

That wish list could work against them.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer predicts the Yankees will be the “biggest losers” of deadline season, and his reasoning makes sense when you look at their situation.

The Yankees don’t have much to offer. Their farm system ranks among the five worst in baseball, and they’re not exactly flush with expendable major league talent either.

Spencer Jones has been tearing it up lately, which should boost his trade value. But he’s still a borderline top-100 prospect because of that massive strikeout rate – 31.7 percent at Triple-A is tough to ignore.

It won’t be easy for Cashman to win any of these battles given what he has to barter with. The Yankees aren’t flush with expendable talent at the major league level, and their farm system is one of the five worst in the league.

Then there’s the money situation. The Yankees are deep in luxury tax territory with an estimated payroll of $308 million. Every dollar they add inflates a tax bill that’s already set to cost them $50 million.

That’s a recipe for disappointment.

Here’s the thing about Jones – even if his hot streak makes him valuable enough to land a decent return, trading him might not sit well with Yankees fans. At 6-foot-7, he gives off serious Aaron Judge vibes, and the fanbase seems pretty attached to keeping him around.

The Yankees do have one thing working for them: a lot of the players they’re targeting have expiring contracts, which keeps the financial commitments manageable. But they’re not the only team in these conversations.

Multiple contenders are chasing the same guys, and the Yankees simply don’t have the prospect capital to outbid everyone.

All things considered, it’s not hard to see the Yankees walking away from the deadline feeling like they didn’t get enough done. With their current slide down the standings, that probably won’t help the mood in the Bronx.

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Luke Bennett avatar
Luke Bennett
3 months ago