This unique season has given the Yankees an opportunity to see how dominant they could be at full strength, enjoying a few weeks when Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton seemed to belt homers with relative ease. It has also presented a reminder that injuries will continue to be a major part of their storyline.
As the Yankees approach Monday’s Trade Deadline, they believe that their roster is one capable of going all the way, especially if general manager Brian Cashman adds reinforcements to help in what figures to be a taut battle with the Rays for the top spot in the American League East. Tampa Bay has taken six of seven meetings with the Yanks thus far.
“It’s such a unique year, and I think Cash and everyone in the front office is navigating what that all means,” manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday. “They’re certainly doing their due diligence and going through the process, having conference calls and Zoom calls. What comes from that? It remains to be seen.”
An important wrinkle to this year’s Trade Deadline is that teams can only trade players who are part of their 60-man player pool (assigned either to the big league team or the alternate training site). Clubs are permitted to include players to be named later in trades, however. Additionally, scouts have not been allowed to attend games in person, so all assessments of prospects have been done based on provided video and data and past knowledge.
Buy/sell/hold: The Yankees will be interested in buying prior to the Deadline, reinforcing a roster that many prognosticators viewed as a championship favorite. Their depth is again being tested, as it was in 2019, when they set records by having 30 players serve 39 stints on the injured list. Seemingly a lock to reach the expanded postseason, they’ll probably have to make a move or two to push for the top seed.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].