4 trade targets Yankees must avoid at 2022 deadline

The New York Yankees currently possess a perfect blend of talent and chemistry, but there are holes on the well-built roster that just haven’t shown themselves yet. For example, while observers might feel comfortable with the current bullpen, it’s easy to forget they’re already three late-inning arms down from what they projected to have when the campaign began.

Jonathan Loaisiga says he’ll be back soon, but how “back” will he be? Do fans even want to welcome Aroldis Chapman back? And when will everyone acknowledge how big a permanent loss Chad Green is?

Don’t even get fans started on the outfield, either; the fact that the Yankees have managed to zoom to the top of the AL East while giving regular plate appearances to Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo has left scientists baffled. The second things go south, all blame will be immediately shifted to those two, players who the Bombers have proven they can win in spite of, not because of.

So, how does Brian Cashman balance the talent already in the room with the necessary caulk for covering up gaps? He’ll need to seamlessly blend in an additional late-inning bullpen option, some trustworthy outfield depth, and maybe even an additional starting pitcher/swingman to take some innings pressure off Nestor Cortes/Jameson Taillon.

But he shouldn’t go anywhere near these guys.

The Bombers’ quest for capable depth shouldn’t involve rolling the dice on players in the midst of significant struggles just to get a minor discount, nor should it revolve around historically average players having excellent seasons. Why would you pay a C+ at a B+ price? When push comes to shove, Cashman should tell these players to shove off.

4 MLB Trade Deadline targets Yankees must avoid

4. Frankie Montas

Frankie Montas seems like an excellent arm to have in your arsenal. He was the prize of the offseason, but stayed put long enough to become the prize of the trade deadline, too.

If the Yankees could have him for free? Sure! Welcome aboard; we’ll figure out the rest later. Unfortunately, at what’s sure to be an extremely high acquisition cost, the Yankees should be nowhere near Montas.

Could the Yanks use some starting pitching depth? Absolutely. A swingman type would do them a great deal of good and allow them to bump someone like JP Sears one rung further down the depth chart. But the Bombers have the top rotation in baseball in 2022, fueled by Gerrit Cole … as the No. 5 starter (or, at least, the fifth-strongest performer).

If a major injury occurs pre-deadline, the Yankees might have to reevaluate their position here, which could lead to extreme and previously-unnecessary prospect shedding. That would be a massive bummer for multiple reasons, obviously.

As things stand now, though, the Yankees should use their deadline to try to take the second-half pressure off their rotation, and not to surrender multiple controllable pieces in exchange for a guy with a 3.40 ERA but only 80 strikeouts in 76.2 innings pitched. Let the Giants and Dodgers fight over him instead.

3. Amir Garrett

Mea culpa on Amir Garrett, folks. In previous projections, it was very easy to see the ex-Red as an ideal fit for New York. He can bring the heat on the mound, sure, but the St. John’s basketball alum and Victorville, CA native can also bring the spice to any and all dugout fights. When the Yankees needed both a seventh inning guy and an injection of fire, Garrett seemed like a natural instigator.

This offseason, though, he was swapped for Mike Minor and his $10 million salary, a confusing “win never” move from Cincinnati that resulted in a reset for the Bombers. Perhaps, by the trade deadline, Garrett would have established himself once again as a prime target?

Not so much.

Only recently back from injury, the 30-year-old Garrett has posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 14.2 innings pitched (with 18 Ks, if you really want to believe). Garrett hasn’t thrown nearly enough this season to give Statcast their requisite data, but so far, he isn’t spinning the fastball at the necessary level, either, clocking in at the 40th percentile.

This doesn’t appear to be a fluke, either, or sudden-onset struggles Garrett can blame on injury. After his exceptional shortened 2020, he put up a 6.00+ ERA last season, too, in 47.2 innings (6.04, to be exact). Garrett might be a buy-low bullpen salve for someone else, and he’s controllable through 2023. If the Yankees go ‘pen, though, they need to take the chance on a “buy high” option; otherwise, rolling with Sears and Ron Marinaccio would be a preferable risk.

1. Tommy Pham

Before you slap me upside the head, just listen. LISTEN. OK, you’re slapping me anyway. Should’ve seen that coming.

The 34-year-old Pham has been more infamous than effective in 2022, leading the charge in the Great Fantasy Football Debate of ’21-’22. The Reds outfielder’s open-palm smack of Joc Pederson for stashing players on his IR did give us one great moment (Mike Trout almost admitting live on ESPN that the ESPN Fantasy Football app sucks), but the whirlwind of chatter is the type of thing a team should only endure if the production is top-notch.

Spoiler: the production isn’t top-notch.

Though Pham has heated up a bit, hitting .315 with a .556 slugging percentage in his past 15 games (perhaps seeing red because of the beef), his overall season slash line leaves plenty to be desired (.247/.346/.418). Add in his status as an aging disruptor, and the Yankees can probably find outfield depth elsewhere. Trading for Andrew Benintendi or Ian Happ would be vastly preferable, and while Pham would likely provide more production than an Estevan Florial promotion, at least there’s very little chance that would upset the apple cart.

Pham stings the baseball (95th percentile average exit velocity, 89th maximum exit velocity), but he also strikes out regularly (34th percentile) and surprisingly hasn’t been able to translate his hard liners into an impressive expected batting average (58th percentile). Add in his defensive lapses (41st percentile in outs above average, 29th in outfield jump), and Pham would be unlikely to provide rock-solid play from a fourth outfielder position. There’s too much Joey Gallo in his game (the hard-hit/xBA disparity), and there’s too much attitude to be satisfied with being buried on the bench.

Not every 2022 Yankee has to absolutely sting the baseball. Some just have to play elite defense and put bat on ball (Benny). Pham would have been a better fit for the dysfunctional 2021 version of this roster.

3 Red Sox players Yankees fans will hopefully watch leave at trade deadline

The New York Yankees and their fans hate the Boston Red Sox, so hopefully these three division rivals will be gone by the trade deadline.