Yankees should replace Cody Bellinger with long-time enemy before Red Sox pounce

Cody Bellinger's pregame agility drills on Sunday night were encouraging, but the Yankees and an unwilling Bellinger clearly determined that something was still wrong enough to merit an Injured List stint of undetermined length. Even before Bellinger went down, this dreadful lineup was lacking both impact bats and depth. After acquiring a catcher, "fourth outfielder" was probably the Yankees' primary offensive need. You can now bump that up to "third outfielder" or potentially "second," depending on your opinion of Jasson Domínguez.

All this to say that the Yankees' ability to tread water could be determined by whether they make the right bet on a fringy, risky outfield option. Lane Thomas has a low ceiling, but a high floor. Spencer Steer felt like a versatile fit before his wrist popped Sunday — at least it happened before the Yankees acquired him instead of the way Andrew Benintendi's went down in 2022.

And speaking of Benintendi, there's ample evidence the Yankees should import an old enemy again this summer and try to forgive and forget. George Springer, fresh off a "career year" resurgence during the Toronto Blue Jays' playoff run, will hit free agency ahead of the lockout, and only has a proportional amount of $25 million still tied to him for the remainder of the year.

Though his full-season numbers remain ugly in comparison to last year's MVP run, his sample size of solid play grows larger everyday, and his clutch bonafides are undeniable. If the Red Sox really are trying to get crazy this deadline, he'd fit there, too, if they dealt Jarren Duran and prioritized an outfielder, as they're hinting they might.

You know what that means, Yankees. Don't let this October riser go somewhere you despise yet again. Try to obtain the New Britain native, and eat his money to diminish the prospect package you surrender.

How can Yankees create a George Springer trade package that doesn't haunt them with Blue Jays?

At the risk of wildly overvaluing the Yankees' prospects and undervaluing a potential impact bat, this trade package has the chance to look really quiet if it does go down. That's why it's so imperative that the Yankees play ball here. Imagine the Sox getting Springer for left-hander Yaxel Evercart, a person who doesn't exist that I just made up.

One pitcher from the Thatcher Hurd/Bryce Cunningham/Kyle Carr tier should be enough — and honestly may be too much. Two months of Springer should be a one-for-one from the Yankees' pitching overflow. Any more, and I start to itch. But Springer at Fenway is even itchier, so ... you tell me. With or without a healthy Bellinger, it does make sense to get a little evil here.

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