3 Yankees trade deadline targets you’re probably not thinking about

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 27: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles gestures after hitting a two run home run to right field during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 27, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 27: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles gestures after hitting a two run home run to right field during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 27, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
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While every Yankees fan is rightly focused on upgrading the Joey Gallo spot with either Andrew Benintendi or Ian Happ — no one else will do — there are plenty more areas on the current roster that could use a little sprucing up.

Though it’s hard to believe a team that entered July with a 12.5-game lead, one of the largest in the sport’s history at that fencepost, could improve much, that’s actually not the case. This historically great Yanks team is also somehow not that close to maxing out, and leaves a five-game stretch with Houston shaking their heads wondering if their offense can match the pitching.

Is that fair? Partly yes, partly no. No fan should be leaving that battle feeling hopeless about the team with the best record under all circumstances this season (when trailing, against over-.500 teams, etc.). However, the offense showed up in a few dramatic sequences over the five-game span, but didn’t show much consistency and was nearly no-hit twice. In a short playoff series, that’s less than ideal, no matter how many games Aaron Judge stole.

The pitching must be solidified, with both potential innings-eaters for the rotation (best-case Luis Castillo, worst-case Merrill Kelly) and bullpen options (David Robertson, anyone?). The offensive concerns are more top-of-mind, though; anyone who’s watched this team on a daily basis knows changes are almost certainly coming in the outfield.

Beyond the names that have been discussed ad nauseam, these three potential options seem to have flown under the radar entirely, but could be both perfect fits and very available.

And yes, there are a few Yankees rivals involved.

3 Yankees trade deadline targets no one is mentioning for 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base off balance but not in time to get Thairo Estrada #39 of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on June 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Estrada got an rbi infield single on the play. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base off balance but not in time to get Thairo Estrada #39 of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on June 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Estrada got an rbi infield single on the play. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Old Friend Brandon Drury

Remember Brandon Drury? The power-hitting infielder for whom the Yankees went out on a limb in a multi-player deal, only to eventually learn he was having undiagnosed vision issues?

Drury was as tough-to-watch as they came in 2018, wrapping up an 18-game stint with a .176 average and a single home run before he was shipped to Toronto with Billy McKinney for JA Happ in a rapid wave of the white flag. The third baseman was as invisible in Yankee pinstripes as the baseball was to him during his Yankee tenure.

But now? After bouncing around between the Jays and Mets, the now-29-year-old Drury has found an equilibrium in Cincinnati, after putting together a secretly effective season off the bench in Queens last year, too. Drury is hitting .274/.332/.532 with 16 homers and a 127 OPS+, and has an outside shot at being named the Reds’ All-Star Game representative in the weeks to come.

Whether the Yankees attempt to acquire him or not likely depends on how far Josh Donaldson’s slide goes in the coming weeks, if he’s even able to stay healthy long enough to provide us with enough of a data set. Drury’s a right-handed hitter, but he’s also logged time in the outfield throughout his career, and can aid with bench versatility as well if Donaldson remains active (or begins to clear a very low bar for offensive production).

A Drury addition wouldn’t rock the boat spectacularly or cost too much. If the Yankees do decide to be extremely proactive and upgrade at third base (or, at least, behind Donaldson), he’d be an excellent fit.

BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 22: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates hitting a solo home run in the third inning with Austin Hays #21 during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 22, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 22: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates hitting a solo home run in the third inning with Austin Hays #21 during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 22, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

2. Anthony Santander

Most of the Yankees’ outfield discourse thus far has centered around pure left-handed hitters like Benintendi or Happ. Gamers. Guys who know how to control the bat and get on base, with a little bit of pop mixed in.

But … who would they be replacing again? Ah, right, Joey Gallo, the purest power play of all power plays. So what if, instead of targeting solid hitters with moderate upside, the Yankees looked for switch-hitting pop?

Enter Anthony Santander, who’s killed the Yankees thus far in 2022 and would fit nicely in the Bronx if Baltimore’s willing to surrender 2.5 years of control.

Santander brings some swing and miss to the table, sure, but far less than the man he’d potentially be replacing. The potency of a non-Aaron Hicks switch-hitter for the outfield rotation is certainly enticing; the O’s slugger has 14 bombs, 39 RBI, and a 115 OPS+ so far playing his home games in a stadium where the left-field wall suddenly contracted gigantism in mid-winter.

Tony Taters would be a defensive downgrade and, who are we kidding, the O’s would probably prefer to shop him outside the AL East, especially as they approach a level of competitiveness the city hasn’t seen in ages. Whispers have been circulating about Santander’s availability in recent weeks, though, more so than Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins or the Orioles’ other stars who are under contract for quite a while. The Yankees will, at least, inquire — it would be very nice to remove him from the other side.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 11: Joey Wendle #18 of the Miami Marlins gets ready in the batters box against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 11, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 11: Joey Wendle #18 of the Miami Marlins gets ready in the batters box against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 11, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

1. Joey Wendle

He’ll annoy you much less if he’s on your own team!

As Isiah Kiner-Falefa gets deeper and deeper into the season, he’s begun to agitate some forward-thinking fans more and more. After all, his role isn’t as a run producer, but rather as a hard-nosed “gamer”. Some diehards approach that situation and say, “Why…exactly would we employ someone who intentionally does not produce runs?”

IKF is an interesting case. He’s a “stopgap” who’s probably better suited to a utility role. He makes consistent contact, which occasionally results in hard liners, but typically results in rollovers to short. His defense is solid and sometimes special, but there have been plenty of high-profile clunkers mixed in, too. The power may never come; he enters July homerless, with only 11 doubles to his name.

The Yankees are probably planning to roll with him moving forward…but if not…why not trade for a “gamer” who does all the little things and some of the big things? Specifically, eternal thorn-in-their-side Joey Wendle, no longer on the Rays and resting on the Miami Marlins’ IL since late May.

When healthy this season, Wendle produced sans-batting gloves, hitting .284 with a .340 OBP and 114 OPS+, clearing IKF’s bar significantly. He’s basically a DJ LeMahieu clone who can also play shortstop (LeMahieu’s fatal flaw!), and would fall into a nice rotation with Kiner-Falefa that could eventually send Marwin Gonzalez to the outfield more often and Matt Carpenter potentially packing.

If acquired, the Yankees will be able to put their trust in Wendle at multiple positions — and it’s not like he doesn’t have postseason expertise. If the goal is to grate your opponent like sandpaper, Wendle could certainly help, and shouldn’t cost much.

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