Jeff Passan's trade deadline links for Rays are an absolute Yankees nightmare

The New York Yankees' 12-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field last Thursday looked and felt like a dam bursting. New York's long-dormant offense finally brok out, and not even Rays ace Drew Rasmussen could stand in the way. There were plenty of reasons for the struggling Yankees to celebrate the occasion unapologetically.

And yet, after the series split, the Yanks still trailed the Rays by four games in the American League East (it's now three games after the first half concluded). One big win doesn't erase New York's woeful summer thus far. Nor does it speed up the healing process for Aaron Judge's rib or Giancarlo Stanton's calf. Are the Yankees that are still healthy going to string together some good baseball games after the All-Star break, or what? The Yanks' veteran leaders like Judge and Gerrit Cole haven't shied away from lambasting their team's effort over the past month or so.

It's not just about the players. Aaron Boone's gotten some heat recently, and rightfully so. Moreover, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office has important work to do between now and the Aug. 3 trade deadline. In recent days, New York has been linked to everyone from Tarik Skubal and Byron Buxton to Luis Arráez and Jeremy Peña.

There's a big problem for the Yanks in that regard, though, and that's because the Rays are potentially pursuing some of the same players.

Rays linked to possible Yankees targets Luis Arráez and Jeremy Peña

ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan labeled Arráez a "best match" for the Rays. Passan also called Peña a "dream match" for Tampa Bay. Passan wrote about how Arráez's gift for getting on base would bolster a Rays offense that has struggled mightily outside of Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero.

Speaking of anemic offense, have you watched the Yankees lately? Without Judge and Stanton, they have floundered, and guys like Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger — who were picking up the slack for weeks — have tired themselves out and have become automatic outs waiting to recharge during the break.

Arráez would be a breath of fresh air — and a much-needed bat — for this Yankees offense that probably won't get Judge back until September. On the contrary, to miss out on Arráez and (even worse) to see him land with the Rays would be a nightmare situation for Cashman and the Yankees.

Peńa landing in Tampa wouldn't be a good outcome for the Yanks, either, but he's less likely to get moved. It depends on how the Houston Astros are approaching things at the deadline.

Sort of like the Toronto Blue Jays of 2025, the Rays feel like a team that the Yankees are going to have to overcome in a playoff series to reach their goal. Tampa Bay has less talent on paper than New York, of course, but they are far better managed, and they're very clearly not intimidated by the Yanks. That confidence would only grow if the Rays were able to add a key piece at the deadline, especially one that is coveted by New York.

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