With MLB’s trading deadline nearing, all eyes will be on the New York Yankees, as the team ultimately decided how to proceed forth amidst a disappointing season. Heading into Sunday, the Yankees owned a 50-43 record and were nine games back of first place in the American League East. They’re right in the thick of the AL Wild Card race, though, as the team is just a game behind the Houston Astros.
When considering how much the team has struggled offensively this season, especially in Aaron Judge’s absence, it’s quite impressive that the Yankees are still in the hunt. And with that, the team’s general manager, Brian Cashman, knows that there are deficiencies that need to be addressed before Aug. 1.
Brian Cashman's @Yankees trade deadline shopping list:
• Pitching
• Offensive piece that will contribute daily#Yankees | #RepBX | @JimDuquetteGM | @JimBowdenGM pic.twitter.com/unCxCvXyGx— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 16, 2023
“I would think every general manager is going to respond with the pitching, pitching, pitching, always regardless,” Cashman said about his team’s needs at the trade deadline during a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio. “Even though, yes, we just got [Carlos] Rodón back and Nestor Cortes is due back. Obviously, we got to get [Luis Severino] in line and get him firing like the Sevy of old…We got a lot of pitching depth there, but that doesn’t preclude us from being open to adding starting pitching or bullpen.
“We’ve lost some important bullpen pieces along the way to injuries or obviously suspension and so, I think we’ll look at the pitching side…Yeah, we’ll continue to focus on adding more of a bat there that could be more of an established, everyday offensive contributor in left field if that’s viable or not. It remains to be seen whether it’s a right-hand bat that would platoon with what we already have or an everyday position that can lock it down versus lefties and righties all remains to be seen.”
Cashman’s answers certainly line up with the team’s needs. As he said, it remains to be seen if they ultimately pull the trigger on trades for those needs, though.
