It’s safe to say, the first half of the Yankees season has not gone to plan.
As it stands here at the All-Star break, the Bombers are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. Aaron Boone’s club is one game back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the third AL Wild Card spot and sit in fourth place in the AL East.
Luckily for the Yanks, reinforcements figure to be headed their way. Slugging superstar Aaron Judge (toe) is continuing his rehab and All-Star Nestor Cortes (shoulder) continues to progress as well.
However, GM Brian Cashman can ill afford to sit on his hands and await the return of his stars — or gamble on the sudden emergence of one of his struggling veterans such as DJ LeMahieu, Josh Donaldson or Giancarlo Stanton.
Trade season is right around the corner — Aug. 1 deadline — and while the Bombers have already begun to shake things up by firing hitting coach Dillon Lawson and bringing in former big leaguer Sean Casey to replace him, upgrades on the actual diamond are necessary if they want to recast the glimmer of hope for a 28th World Series championship.
Here are three potential targets for the Yanks at the trade deadline:
Cody Bellinger made it pretty easy to paint the picture of what he could look like in the Bronx this past weekend. The outfielder was 3-for-10 with a long, long 410-foot homer in the Cubs series victory over the Bombers this past weekend.
The 2019 NL MVP is having a bit of a resurgent season — after struggling from 2020-2022 with the Dodgers (.648 OPS) — on his one-year, $12 million prove-it deal he inked with the struggling Cubs (42-47) this offseason.
Bellinger — the son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger — is slashing .298/.355/.491 with nine homers and 29 RBI. All three of his slash numbers would rank second on the Bombers behind only Judge.
The underlying offensive metrics, however, are a bit suspect. The 27-year-old is in the sixth percentile in baseball in Hard Hit% and 11th in average exit velocity suggesting some good fortune for the slugger this season.
The Yanks are in desperate need of a left fielder and Bellinger is amongst the best defensive outfielders in baseball — 90th percentile in outs above average. Between his offensive numbers, defensive prowess and tradeable contract, Bellinger is a realistic target to don the pinstripes this season.
This is where things could get a bit more expensive. The St. Louis Cardinals (38-52) have been nothing short of horrific this season, despite entering the year with World Series aspirations.
The RedBirds have a plethora of outfielders — even trading one to the Yankees last season at the trade deadline (Harrison Bader) — and Nootbaar likely owns the highest trade value as he isn’t arbitration eligible until 2025 making him a prime candidate to be moved on Aug. 1.
The international superstar — after his championship run with Japan in the World Baseball Classic — is slashing .259/.358/.382 with five homers and 25 RBI this season.
While the numbers don’t jump off the page at you, his baseball savant page is very easy on the eyes. Nootbaar sits in the 58th percentile in hard-hit percentage and registers near league-best BB% (92nd percentile) and chase rate (97th percentile). The left-handed hitter is also a prized defender ranking in the 81st percentile in outs above average.
Nootbaar could bring elements to the Bombers that they have been missing this season such as good defense and the ability to get on base (26th in team OBP ahead of only the Tigers, A’s, White Sox and Royals).
However, the question of Nootbaar’s availability and the Yankees’ willingness to pay the price will be something to watch for as we wind down to August.
Third base has been another black hole for the Yankees this season. LeMahieu has greatly underperformed (.220/.285/.357) and Donaldson’s (.152/.232/.465) leash is getting shorter by the day.
Jeimer Candelario is almost certain to be traded by the Nationals (36-54) at the deadline. The 29-year-old is on a one-year deal he signed this past offseason and has had a bit of a breakout season.
The switch-hitter is slashing .261/.337/.478 with 13 homers and 43 RBI this season.
Cashman will likely explore all avenues to improve one of the worst offenses in the league and with scarce trade chips within the minor-league system, cheap rental options like Candelario are players to keep an eye on, regardless of the position they play.
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