Could Yankees and Rays strike a deal before the deadline?

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As the MLB trade deadline nears, the gears of speculation are grinding furiously, particularly around potential talks between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. Both teams are placed in a very different position, and naturally, the Yankees have a lot more to lose if they don’t make full use of this deadline. Even captain Aaron Judge sent a message to the front office, asking for some reinforcements at the halfway stage.

At the halfway stage, the Yankees have a few holes – will Tampa help fill it?

The Yanks are just one win away from the top of AL East. The Rays, on the other hand, have a lot more work to do, and maybe it’s time they throw in the white flag for 2024. That said, the Yankees absolutely can’t afford to have a deadline like they did in 2023, with barely two bullpen moves. They enter this deadline with much more on the line – if the front office can’t flex its muscle, the odds of Juan Soto making his way back to the Bronx are slim to none. But what are their biggest holes?

• Bullpen reinforcements
• A stronger infield – 2nd and 3rd base in particular
• One active bat that’s not Aaron Judge or Juan Soto

Surprisingly or not, in the same division, the Rays have a possible fix for each of the Yankees’ problems. The Rays, known for their shrewd, almost prophetic front office moves, find themselves in a peculiar spot – buy or sell? Though history suggests that they’ve often managed to do both together, this time a lot of the Yankees’ hopes may depend on how the Rays want to approach this deadline.

The Rays’ scouting team has already started working looking into the Yankees’ lower-league affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons and according to MLB insider Andy Martino, this isn’t just routine oversight; it’s targeted assessment with an eye towards a potential trade.

The Yanks need to strengthen their roster if they really want to compete. A poor deadline could mean the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit. Players like Isaac Paredes and Zach Eflin could address critical gaps in the Yankees’ lineup, particularly in the infield and pitching rotation. Paredes, an All-Star capable of manning any spot in the infield, is particularly appealing given the persistent issues we look at third base combined with the ongoing struggles of Gleyber Torres.

The Rays, meanwhile, have the luxury of being both buyers and sellers. They’ve already made moves this season, shipping Aaron Civale and Phil Maton off in deals that subtly hint at a bigger strategy.

Will Brian Cashman salvage the Yankees at this deadline?

The Rays, sitting in fourth place in the AL East and trailing in the Wild Card race, might be shifting towards selling off assets to rebuild for a stronger future. But for us, the benefits of such trades are immediate and determine the future, even if it comes at the cost of parting with a little bit of future. Only a game behind in their division, Cashman is scouting for additions that can plug the gaps caused by an injury to Giancarlo Stanton and the recent slump of other bats. Their interest in Rays’ players like Paredes, who has shown All-Star level versatility across the infield, and Eflin, a solid starter under a manageable contract, aligns with their immediate needs.

A player like Eflin, who is under a team-friendly contract, could provide stability in a rotation that has seen its fair share of fluctuations. His addition would not only shore up the pitching staff but also allow the Yankees to experiment with shifting Luis Gil to a bullpen role, where his power arm could be a significant asset in late-inning situations.

But the Yankees need to be cautious. The Rays have a history of coming out ahead in trades, as Andy Martino explicitly states, especially within the division. Will Brian Cashman and the rest of the Yankees front office find common ground with the Rays to successfully execute a trade? What do you think? Leave your comment below!

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