The MLB trade deadline is just around the corner and the New York Yankees have remained quiet on the trade front so far. The question is what will they do before the trade deadline? Given the Yankees' recent struggles, they finished the first half of the season with a 9-18 record, it's obvious that they need to do something to fix a lot of underlying issues with this team.
One move that the Yankees could make could involve their top prospect, Spencer Jones. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, New York is open to including Jones in a trade for Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet or Detroit Tigers pitcher and Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal. However, the White Sox seem to want more than just Jones in a trade package. A trade that involves Jones or Jasson Dominguez could be just enough for the White Sox to make a trade with New York. While that is a possibility, the Dodgers seem to be the heavy favorite for Crochet, while the Tigers are in potential talks with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers for Skubal.
It doesn't make sense to me why the Yankees would be open to trading Jones at all. Jones is your best player in the minors, why would you want to get rid of him? Regardless, the Yankees shouldn't trade Jones at all because he could be a key piece of the Yankees outfield in the short-term future. Alex Verdugo's defense hasn't been great and he's in a slump offensively. Since May he has become one of the worst hitters in baseball, going 15-for-103 in that span (.146). Jones would be a great replacement for Verdugo because he's good in the outfield and can produce offensively as he's hitting .238 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in Double-A.
Pitching is one of the Yankees' needs, but they need bullpen help more than starters and trading Jones for just a starting pitcher just won't be enough. Crochet and Skubal would help a Yankees starting rotation with a 2.78 ERA, the best in the majors. However, that strong staff has been beaten up, as since June 11 they have the worst ERA in the majors at 6.20. While Crochet or Skubal would be a great addition to the Yankees, I think New York's starters are just going through a slump and can turn things around.
What the Yankees should do is fix their struggling infield. One trade scenario is the Yankees trading for Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo and Miami Marlins reliever Tanner Scott. New York could send some prospects, just not Jones, to the Angels and Marlins. Scott would give the Yankees bullpen a boost and help improve it by taking pressure off of Clay Holmes in late-inning/high-leverage situations.
Meanwhile, Rengifo could help improve the Yankees infield. If the Yankees traded for Rengifo then they could send Gleyber Torres and some mid-level prospects to the Angles. Torres has struggled this season as he's hitting .229 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs and has committed the most errors by second basemen this year with 12. Torres is also an upcoming free agent after this year, while Rengifo won't become a free agent until 2026. Rengifo brings defensive flexibility, with him being able to play 2B, 3B, and a little bit of SS. Since the 2023 All-Star break, Rengifo has a higher batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage than Torres and DJ LeMahieu, with the Venezuelan infielder holding a slashline of .284/.346/.443. Meanwhile, the two current Yankee infielders, Torres and LeMahieu, are hitting .258/.332/.415 and .233/.319/.357.
Another possible trade scenario is the Yankees trading for Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes. In this trade, the Yankees could send DJ LeMahieu and prospects Roderick Arias, George Lombard Jr., and RHP Chase Hampton to the Rays. Arias and Lombard are the best infield prospects in the Yankees farm system, while Hampton is the best-remaining pitcher in the system. While LeMahieu would replace Paredes, Arias, and Lombard would provide depth and starting potential over Taylor Walls, while Hampton could become a good starting pitcher in the Rays' pitching factory.
LeMahieu has struggled this season and was recently benched. Paredes would be a great replacement for LeMahieu. Isaac is one of the best third basemen in the game right now and having him at third base instead of LeMahieu would be a huge improvement for the Yankees. Paredes can produce offensively better than LeMahieu as he's had at least one hit in 63.8 percent of games this year, has scored at least one run in 35.1 percent of games, and has driven in at least one run in 37.2 percent of games this year. He also is flexible and can play any first base, second base, and third base, while LeMahieu has only played at third base, and occasionally at first base. The Yankees should consider this trade because LeMahieu isn't getting any better and the fans want him gone.
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