The Yankees sit atop the AL East with a 15-11 record, but they’re not firing on all cylinders yet. That’s actually encouraging news – they’ve built a two-game division lead despite some obvious roster holes.
New York entered 2024 with clear needs, and injuries during spring training only magnified those weaknesses. If GM Brian Cashman makes a midseason move, he’ll likely target pitching help or an infield upgrade at either second or third base. With Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s positional flexibility, the Yankees have options for how they might reshape their infield.
David Schoenfield of ESPN recently identified Colorado’s Kyle Farmer as a potential trade target who could make sense in pinstripes.
“The Rockies rarely do anything splashy at the trade deadline — and often do nothing at all — but they’ll have plenty of time to map out a potential strategy this year,” Schoenfield wrote. “However, which players would they even consider trading? Right-hander German Marquez is a free agent but hasn’t shown any swing-and-miss stuff. Kyle Freeland is a homegrown local kid whom they will never trade. Ryan McMahon is signed through 2027 and is viewed as a franchise cornerstone. So that leaves … Farmer? Maybe some team will want him as a utility guy.”
Farmer doesn’t fit the typical Yankees power profile – he’s never been a home run threat. But he’s shown he can put together quality at-bats throughout his career and would likely come at a reasonable acquisition cost.
The 33-year-old utility man is off to a modest start in 2024, hitting .253 with a .661 OPS for the Rockies. His track record suggests better production is possible. Last season with Minnesota, Farmer posted a .725 OPS with 11 home runs – the kind of supplementary production that could strengthen the bottom of New York’s lineup.
The Yankees’ championship aspirations hinge on maximizing their roster before the trade deadline. While Farmer isn’t a headline-grabbing name, he represents the type of complementary piece that could help address their infield questions without requiring significant prospect capital.
