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New York Yankees Rumors: Should The Yankees Target Yoenis Cespedes?

ByCaleb Gebrewold|

There have been reports that the Detroit Tigers are willing to listen to offers regarding David Price and Yoenis Cespedes. Both of the Tigers stars are set to become free agents following the 2015 season, and with the team’s playoff hopes dwindling with Miguel Cabrera sidelined, they could ship both out of town before the July 31 trade deadline.

Although the team has yet to announce their trade deadline plans, and they still remain in the thick of the Wild Card race, if they do sell, there will be plenty of suitors for both players, something that Michael noted in his article yesterday, as he concluded that the New York Yankees would be better to wait for free agency to target Price.

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Adding Cespedes, who plays the same position as Yankees All-Star Brett Gardner, is unnecessary, barring injury. Although Cespedes is having a great season, his best since his rookie season in 2012, the Yankees simply do not have a place for him in the lineup.

Yes, many fans want Carlos Beltran gone, and Cespedes, who has never played right field in his major league career, would represent an upgrade and could likely make the switch across the outfield. Ultimately, however, the team has other areas which they should focus on upgrading before targeting another outfielder.

At 38, Beltran may be best suited as a DH, but the Yankees have Alex Rodriguez there, and looking at Beltran’s production since his horrible April, he has been one of the team’s best hitters. Not only does Cespedes not have a spot on the field in the 2015 lineup, but with Gardner, Beltran, and Jacoby Ellsbury all signed beyond 2015, he will not have a spot next season as well.

The main logjam problem trading for Cespedes creates is how it affects the Yankees top prospect Aaron Judge. Although Beltran is signed through 2016, many expect the right field job to be Judge’s come next season (maybe even this season). Trading prospects away for Cespedes means that the team will likely look to resign him following the season, which means that either Gardner, Ellsbury, or Judge must be shipped away.

While Gardner and Ellsbury are far too important to the Yankees lineup for the team to consider moving, adding Cespedes would likely mean that Yankees fans will never get the chance to watch Judge in pinstripes. Prospects bring unknowns, and many fans might argue that Judge has the potential to become what Cespedes is, and trading him could net other prospects.

Ultimately, however, Judge is young, cheap talent, and Cespedes will demand a huge salary following the season. Unless it is in a deal which also brings Price to the Yankees, Cespedes should be avoided at all costs. Not because he is a bad player, but because the Yankees actually have outfield talent, and minor league depth ready to takeover. The team would be better suited to target an addition to the rotation, or the bullpen.

Next: New York Yankees Trade Targets: Could The Yankees Acquire Yovani Gallardo

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