3 high-profile trade targets Yankees need to revisit this offseason

The offseason rumors are alive and well just days after the conclusion of the 2022 season, and the New York Yankees are front and center due to Aaron Judge’s free agency. Their disappointing playoff elimination has played a role in exacerbating everything, too.

Upgrades are needed all over the place, even if Judge re-signs. Right now, this team has no first baseman, shortstop or left fielder. Their short at least one capable starting pitcher (and probably two). The bullpen needs to be re-worked yet again.

Exploring the trade market will once again be essential, as it always proves to be for the Yankees over the winter. General manager Brian Cashman‘s particularly good at finding hidden gems that end up contributing far more positively than anybody could’ve ever imagined.

Where he falls short, however, is going after the big names via trade. He either targets the wrong ones or isn’t willing to pay the (rightful) expensive prices for the most sought-after options. But that’s going to have to change since the Yankees can’t address all of their deficiencies with money alone.

The Yankees were linked to a number of high-profile players dating back to last offseason and up until the deadline, but the trades were never made. Could it all change this time around?

3 top trade candidates Yankees need to revisit this offseason

3. Pablo Lopez

We’ve already got ya covered here. Pablo Lopez is once again (reportedly) available in trade talks. The Yankees were said to have had a deal in place for the right-hander at the trade deadline buzzer, but the Marlins backed out, leaving New York a starting pitcher short for the next six weeks.

Might the Yankees now revisit discussions with Miami after Lopez’s value dipped due to his dwindling club control and disastrous second half of 2022? Or might that be an omen to stay away?

Being that the Yankees already have a rotation of Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas, adding Lopez at the right price to the back end would actually do them well. A pitcher of his caliber, under contract through 2024, would help preserve the bullpen and provide a ton of length in the postseason.

The asking price was rumored to be too high last time, but if the Marlins want hitters, they may not have the luxury of calling the shots just a few months after playing hardball.

2. Ian Happ

Why wasn’t this done the first time? It would’ve solved the Yankees’ left field problem and given them an answer at the position for 2023. Instead, they traded for Andrew Benintendi, who got hurt and then became a free agent. They couldn’t predict the injury, but New York ended up getting no impact and no solution for 2023.

Had they been more aggressive in trying to trade for Ian Happ, perhaps he could’ve been packaged with reliever Scott Effross. Maybe they did try, who knows. But the only rumblings fans heard leading up to the deadline were that of loose interest/consideration.

It seemed like a match, too, because Happ doesn’t figure to be in the Cubs’ long-term plans due to Chicago’s current trajectory. The slugger had an All-Star campaign (his first) in 2022 and captured the Gold Glove for left field in the National League. He notched career highs with a .271 batting average, 42 doubles, 72 runs scored and 72 RBI. His 119 OPS+ would’ve done wonders in a Yankees lineup that mostly consisted of average hitters when all was said and done.

Well, the price has no doubt decreased because of the lost half-year of club control. Yankees should revisit this ASAP if they deem the outfield market too pricey. They’re already going to have to pay top dollar to fill the void in right field.