4 underrated targets (and mock trades) to bolster Yankees' lineup before trade deadline

The New York Yankees have the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball this season, yet their 94 team wRC+ is 21st among all teams in the majors. With Aaron Judge out for the foreseeable future with a toe injury and much of the Yankees’ starting lineup faltering offensively, the team is in need of an offensive spark.

When Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL in July 2021, the Atlanta Braves – despite losing their star player for the season and being 44-44 – made numerous trades to re-tool their outfield, propelling them to become World Series champions. 

Although Judge has a chance of returning this season, the Yankees should take a 2021 Braves approach in re-tooling their offense sooner rather than later. Here are four players the Yankees should be inquiring about as the trade deadline approaches:

4 trade targets for Yankees at 2023 MLB Trade Deadline

Jeimer Candelario

After a down year in 2022 preceded by two productive seasons in 2020 and 2021, the Detroit Tigers non-tendered Jeimer Candelario last winter. Looking for a bounceback in 2023, Candelario signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Washington Nationals.

So far, the signing looks as if it’s one of the best from last offseason, as Candelario’s 2.4 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement (fWAR) is the third-best among third basemen. With Candelario on an expiring contract and the Nationals in no place to contend, it would make sense for the team to explore a trade.

If he’s traded, the Yankees would be one of the best fits for Candelario. With Josh Donaldson and DJ LeMahieu struggling immensely, Yankee third basemen have the fifth-worst fWAR among third base groups in MLB and have faltered offensively with a 78 wRC+, the fourth-worst among third base groups.

Candelario would be an instant upgrade for the Yankees, as his 117 wRC+ would be the second-best among qualified Yankees and his seven Outs Above Average (OAA) would be the most on the team.

Mock trade: 

Yankees acquire: Jeimer Candelario

Nationals acquire: Luis Serna (Yankees No. 17 prospect) and Anthony Hall (Yankees No. 19 prospect)

Zach McKinstry

Although the Detroit Tigers are only 4.5 games back of first place in the AL Central, they’re nine games under .500 and still in the midst of a rebuild. If Detroit decides to sell at the trade deadline, Zach McKinstry would be one of the more attractive players potentially on the move.

McKinstry has played every defensive position besides first base and catcher this season, and he’s played at a high level across the diamond and outfield. Despite a sluggish start to his career at the plate, McKinstry is a just-below-league-average hitter this year (98 wRC+).

Propelled by career bests in Barrel% (66th percentile) and plate discipline (59th percentile K%, 77th percentile BB% and 77th percentile Whiff%), McKinstry is turning himself into a formidable offensive player, especially with his speed. 

McKinstry’s 10 stolen bases and 2.1 BsR would both be second on the Yankees behind Anthony Volpe, while his 28.5 feet/second sprint speed would be tied with Volpe for second behind Harrison Bader.

This season, the Yankees have tried using Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a super-utility role, but he’s provided nothing more than being a replacement-level player. By acquiring McKinstry, the Yankees would have a true super-utility asset, and he’s under club control through the 2027 season.

Mock trade:

Yankees acquire: Zach McKinstry

Tigers acquire: Oswaldo Cabrera and Will Warren (Yankees No. 7 prospect)

Seth Brown

Seth Brown’s 2023 hasn’t gotten off to the start he hoped for, but he should still have many teams calling the Oakland A’s to inquire about him. After straining his oblique at the start of the season, Brown has only appeared in 38 games and is hitting a bleak .186/.250/.341 (67 wRC+).

However, from 2021-2022, Brown hit .224/.294/.457 (112 wRC+), and he’d give the Yankees a quality bat toward the bottom of the order. Despite a 27.3 K%, Brown walked at an 8.6% clip while barreling 13.3% of the balls he put into play.

Beyond the batter’s box, Brown has proven he can be a valuable asset in the field and on the bases. In 2021, when he was used primarily as a right fielder, Brown’s OAA was in the 90th percentile. Brown’s defensive production slipped in 2022, in part because he played 121.2 innings in center field, but he played well in the outfield corners and ... just okay when he shifted to first base.

Although he hasn’t showcased it this year (probably because of his oblique injury), Brown is a solid base runner. Last season, Brown set career highs with 11 stolen bases and a 2.4 BsR. 

With the A’s crowded in the outfield and at first base, it would make sense for them to look into trading Brown. Being under team control through 2026 and having shown that he’s capable of positively impacting the game at the plate, in the field and on the bases, Brown will likely be coveted by numerous teams come the end of July.

Mock trade:

Yankees receive: Seth Brown

A’s receive: Brendan Beck (Yankees No. 23 prospect), Deivi Garcia