The New York Yankees are reportedly interested in several players on a roll this season. According to a source cited by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Monday, the Yankees are considering Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson and the Rockies’ Randal Grichuk as potential trade targets.
Who is Dylan Carlson and why do the Yankees need him
Dylan Carlson, who is a switch-hitter, has surfaced as a potential remedy for the Yankees’ outfield struggles. According to a source cited by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Monday, the Bronx Bombers are considering Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson as a potential trade target.
With Tyler O’Neill’s impending return from the injured list and the emergence of Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker in the outfield, Dylan Carlson is likely to lose his starting position for the Cardinals. This situation could make a trade a sensible move for St. Louis. The 24-year-old outfielder, currently in his fourth season in the Major Leagues, carried a .237/.343/.367 slash line as of July 17 and is known for his above-average defensive skills. Since his comeback from the injured list on June 9, Carlson has recorded an impressive .839 OPS across 25 games.
Dylan Carlson, previously ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 17 prospect in 2020 and No. 13 in 2021, could be an excellent addition to the Yankees, who are facing outfield deficiencies. The team currently ranks 26th in wins above replacement by outfielders in the 2023 season. Recently, Billy McKinney and Oswaldo Cabrera have been sharing time in left field, while Giancarlo Stanton has been playing in right field in the absence of Aaron Judge, who is on the injured list. Acquiring Carlson would provide the Yankees with a talented outfielder to fill a corner spot while Judge is sidelined, allowing Stanton to transition to the designated hitter position once Judge returns.
Regarding potential trade returns, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak emphasized the team’s priority for “pitching, pitching, pitching.” The Yankees possess several right-handed pitchers in their prospect pool, including prospects ranked sixth through ninth. Among them, No. 7 prospect, Will Warren, is currently playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Randal Grichuk is also a Yankees trade target
As the trade deadline approaches, the Yankees are said to be exploring the possibility of acquiring one of their historical rivals, who once more proved to be a formidable opponent during the recent series against the Rockies.
As per MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand, the Yankees are actively keeping an eye on the corner outfield market, and one notable player that has emerged as a potential option is Rockies outfielder Randal Grichuk. Grichuk, who homered against the Yankees on Friday, has been a thorn in their side, hitting a total of 18 home runs against them since 2018, a number equaled only by Rafael Devers for most home runs by an opponent in that timeframe.
Grichuk, who turns 32 in August, has enjoyed a productive season, maintaining a steady .300 batting average and a .837 OPS in 203 at-bats. However, despite having the advantage of playing at Coors Field, he has only managed to hit five home runs so far this season. It’s worth noting that Grichuk is due to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
In his past 14 games, Grichuck has been on a tear, hitting at an impressive .327 clip and tallying three home runs. This hot streak could very well increase his trade value as he enters the final year of his contract.
However, any team considering a trade for Grichuk will have to take his ongoing health into account. He experienced another injury on Friday and subsequently missed the games on Saturday and Sunday due to left groin tightness.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Grichuk’s remaining contract amounts to approximately $3.89 million. If he can recover from his injury and regain his form, he could be a cost-effective option for the Yankees as a rental player.
Brian Cashman explains Yankees’ trade deadline shopping list
As the 2023 MLB trade deadline approaches on August 1, New York Yankees’ general manager, Brian Cashman, has identified two crucial areas that require attention. The deadline is nearly two weeks away from now.
Brian Cashman mentioned that he believed every general manager would respond with a focus on pitching when approached about their Yankees’ needs. He stated during an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that they had recently welcomed Carlos Rodon back, and Nestor Cortes was also expected to return. Cashman expressed the importance of getting Luis Severino back to his top form, and he highlighted Clarke Schmidt‘s strong performance after a great start. He praised Domingo German for being fantastic for the Yankees.
Despite having pitching depth, Cashman asserted that they were open to adding both starting pitching and bullpen arms, as the bullpen was also significant. The Yankees general manager also stated that they would likely be looking into bolstering their pitching side during the upcoming trade period.
In response to the question, Brian Cashman stated that the Yankees would maintain their focus on the possibility of acquiring a bat for left field. He emphasized the desire for a player who could serve as a consistent offensive contributor on a daily basis. However, Cashman mentioned that the feasibility of such a move was yet to be determined. He explained that the Yankees were exploring options for either a right-handed batter to platoon with their current players or a full-time player capable of performing well against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers. The final decision would depend on the available options and whether the price aligned with their plans moving forward.
During the 2022 MLB trade deadline, the Yankees were actively involved and executed a total of five transactions, among them securing the talents of RHP Frankie Montas and CF Harrison Bader.
In his eight regular-season starts, Montas recorded a 1-3 record with a 6.35 ERA. However, he hasn’t made any appearances in the 2023 season as he is still recuperating from shoulder surgery.
Last year, Bader had limited involvement with only 14 regular-season appearances. However, this year, as of Sunday, his impressive performance includes a slash line of .248/.276/.441, accompanied by seven home runs and 30 RBI across 46 games in 2023.
The Yankees find themselves in a critical situation, urgently requiring reinforcement, But it shouldn’t end up in another Montas trade.
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