The New York Yankees know the pressure is on them to get the players they need at the trade deadline.
Sitting 5 1/2 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays entering Monday, New York will need to put in some work to win the American League East. It’s why Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly lists the Yankees as one of the baseball’s most desperate teams ahead of Thursday.
“It feels like this is as low as you can put the Yankees on a list like this,” wrote Kelly. “There’s always a ton of pressure on them. (T)hey’re the Yankees.”
The most historic franchise in the league is always going to receive the most pressure. However, Kelly revealed there is more to the puzzle than just the sport’s history.
“Where there’s really pressure on the Yankees is to take advantage of one of the greatest primes that baseball has ever seen with Aaron Judge, who is 33 years old,” wrote Kelly. “The Yankees have already acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon to improve their defense, but it does feel like they’re one big bat short. They also need another starter and help in the bullpen.”
It’ll take a lot more than McMahon and Amed Rosario to get the Yankees into the playoffs. The team likely needs another strong bat, a starting pitcher and a reliever.
While general manager Brian Cashman is known to be aggressive every year at the trade deadline, it’s unknown just how aggressive he plans to be before Thursday.
If the Yankees want any chance of catching the Blue Jays, the bat and a starting pitcher must be the priority. Those need to be acquired as soon as possible for the Bronx Bombers to get them settled in at Yankee Stadium.
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