Trade Rumors: Five Players the Yankees Should NOT Target At The Deadline
By Matt Mirro
With the July 31st trading deadline fast approaching, there’s been a lot of talk about who the Yankees will look to acquire in order to help fill some roster holes as they gear up for a playoff run. General Manager Brian Cashman has already made two significant moves, grabbing starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy (2-0 1.45 ERA in 3 starts since joining the Bombers) from the Diamondbacks, and third baseman Chase Headley (.300 batting average with 2 RBI in first three games with Yankees) from the Padres. But Cashman’s work isn’t done, and the GM has been working the phones like crazy, trying to make moves to improve the club. It’s pretty easy to see the spots in need of a good polishing, like the starting rotation, and the second base and right field position. Many people, rival General Managers, sports writers and fans alike, seem to think that the Yankees have around two or three moves left in them, and they’ll be entering August with a few new toys.
But with a constant stream of rumors and rumblings, it’s hard to sort fact from fiction. Fans sometimes fall victim to the lure of their team possibly bringing in a big name superstar, and clear heads can get clouded in a second. The Yankees aren’t as far off as some would think. They’ve won 8 of their last 11, and they’re 7-1 since returning from the All-Star Break. The Bombers are not in desperate need of high priced “superstar talent” in order to compete down the stretch, and in the playoffs this season. So it’s vital to move past obscurity and hysteria and highlight 5 players the New York Yankees should NOT target at the trade deadline.