Heading into the All-Star Break, the Yankees sit 53-43 and atop the AL Wild Card race, and 2 games behind Toronto for the top spot in the American League East. With the trade deadline just a few weeks away, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman addressed the media after the release of DJ LeMahieu, and spoke on what the Yankees will be looking for ahead of the deadline, highlighting third base, the starting rotation, and the bullpen. Third base has been a black hole for the last few years, really since the departure of Josh Donaldson in 2023. The rotation has been dealt some bad injury luck, both Gerrit Cole and now Clarke Schmidt out with Tommy John surgery, Luis Gil still working his way back from an injury that has had him sidelined since spring training, Marcus Stroman missed over a month with a knee injury, and Ryan Yarborough has been on the IL as well. Though the Yankees got a good first start out of rookie Cam Schlittler, they need some more help there. The bullpen has been dreadful as well, though Devin Williams has turned around his slow start, Luke Weaver has been abysmal since coming back from injury, Fernando Cruz is injured, as is Jake Cousins and Mark Leiter Jr. The Yankees need bullpen help, and badly. Here’s what I think could be an attainable, and successful, deadline for the Yankees.
Strike Blockbuster with Arizona
The Diamondbacks haven’t had a strong season, and it has been reported that they’ve made some of their big rental players available for trade, two pieces among them being third baseman Eugenio Suarez and starter Merrill Kelly. Suarez is a power hitting third baseman who is an All-Star who has 31 homers and a 142 wRC+ this season for the DBacks, he may not be a positive defender but he is a fantastic offensive player, and one that makes this already deep lineup that much deeper. Kelly on the other hand, is an innings eating starter who has proven capable of pitching in October. He was a big piece of the Diamondbacks run to the World Series in 2023 alongside Zac Gallen, who the Yankees could covet as well, they’d likely opt for one of Kelly or Gallen in addition to Suarez. There has been lots of question on what a deal like this could cost, but i’ll give my best shot given we haven’t seen any major trade dominos fall as of yet.
Mock Trade:
NYY Gets: 3B Eugenio Suarez, RHP Merrill Kelly
ARI Gets: RHP Bryce Cunningham, LHP Brock Selvidge, SS Roderick Arias, INF Roc Riggio
Arizona gets a package highlighted by two good arms in the Yankees system, 2024 2nd Rounder Bryce Cunningham being the headliner, Selvidge is a solid arm coming back from injury. As for position players, a prospect who has high upside but hasn’t tapped into it in Arias, and a prospect who could contribute in the majors as soon as next year in Riggio, who could play multiple INF spots. This could be around what it takes for Arizona. There are reports the DBacks could covet Spencer Jones or Cam Schlittler in a deal, but i suspect that price will come down.
Make an add the Bullpen
What the Yankees do in the bullpen likely coincides with what the injury timelines and confidence levels in Fernando Cruz, and Ryan Yarborough. But I think the Yankees will make at least one add to the bullpen, not a Jhoan Duran or Emmanuel Clase, but someone who will fit in well and fill a much needed role in the pen for the Yankees. That reliever is John Schreiber. Schreiber is very familiar, as he spent 3 years with Boston before going to Kansas City, and he’s been solid there, Striking out nearly 10 batters per 9 innings and only walking 7.6% of batters faced in 37.1 innings this year. His sinker/slider combo is one the Yankees could covet, the real question is if Kansas City will sell any pieces, but they’re 47-50, and 4.5 games out of the Wild Card, so i’m inclined to think they’ll sell.
Mock Trade
NYY Gets: RHP John Schreiber
KC Gets: OF Everson Pereira, C/1B Rafael Flores
The Yankees get a bullpen arm with a year and a half of control, and the Royals get two pieces that could play big roles for the major league team fairly soon. In the case of Pereira, he could slide right into the major league lineup, as he’d be an improvement over current Royals left fielder John Rave. Flores is a solid bat who could play a role down the line as well, though he won’t be the heir to Salvador Perez, he could play a solid major league role whether it be at catcher or first base.
Projected Lineup:
LF Jasson Domínguez
RF Aaron Judge
CF Cody Bellinger
3B Eugenio Suarez
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
1B Paul Goldschmidt
DH Ben Rice
C Austin Wells
SS Anthony Volpe
Bench
OF Trent Grisham
DH Giancarlo Stanton
C J.C. Escarra
INF Oswald Peraza
Projected Starting Rotation
LHP Max Fried
LHP Carlos Rodón
RHP Merrill Kelly
RHP Will Warren
RHP Cam Schlittler
Bullpen Options
RHP Devin Williams
RHP Luke Weaver
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga
RHP John Schreiber
LHP Tim Hill
RHP Ian Hamilton
RHP Fernando Cruz*
LHP Ryan Yarborough*
RHP Luis Gil*
RHP Mark Leiter Jr*
RHP Marcus Stroman
RHP JT Brubaker
RHP Scott Effross
RHP Clayton Beeter
*=Currently injured/rehabbing from injury
BS Reports 
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