Yankees: Should they stay with the plan or go for number 28?

Reggie Jackson

Why would the Yankees go for it?

Well, whenever you ask a question like that, you should first think of $$. We’ve all seen the empty seats at Yankee Stadium and the small vision the Yankees have in solving the problem. So, when in doubt, you do what Hal Steinbrenner’s dad did when he brought Reggie Jackson into New York so, according to The Boss, he could “put asses in the seats.”

That’s a cynical view, and it would appear that the Yankees have moved beyond that. But still, asses in the seats pay for those big salaries, as do the ratings for YES, which are also slumping. I can’t predict what will happen on that one, but it’s worthy of being in the conversation.

The easier one to predict is that other teams, like the Cubs, Astros, and (God forbid) the Red Sox are likely to be active at the deadline. This means that if the Yankees intend to keep up with the Joneses, they’ll also need to be in the game.

Theo Epstein, for example, is not going to sit by allowing the Cubs season to wither into oblivion for lack of another starting pitcher. Nor are the Astros, who are in their second season of “rebuilding” going to allow this season pass to pass by while the Texas Rangers are a train wreck and the Mariners figure out what to with Felix Hernandez (2-2, 4.73, 1.575 WHIP).

And maybe the Rangers will dangle Yu Darvish out there to see what the interest is.

Or perhaps, Paul Goldschmidt fills the hole at first base that is becoming a glaring embarrassment in the Yankees offense, with no timetable for Bird’s return and the square peg Chris Carter being asked to fill the round hole on a team he has no place in.