The New York Yankees, who formerly led the American League East, have suddenly fallen three games behind the Baltimore Orioles and are only 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, who are third.
The Yankees’ Urgent Need for Wins as the All-Star Break Approaches
The Yankees need to string together some victories before the All-Star break, but General Manager Brian Cashman will have a chance to address significant needs before the deadline in late July. While we could spend the entire day examining each individual player who is underperforming in the batting order, it is evident that some veterans are struggling to carry their weight and stay up.
Spotlight on Gleyber Torres’ Struggles
Gleyber Torres, one of the team’s more disappointing contributors this season, has everything to lose in a contract year, hitting.223/.397/.344, all career lows. Although he has the second half of the season to turn things around, if Cashman finds a competent second baseman who can offer better defense, he shouldn’t hesitate to make a trade.
Infield Challenges and Limited Options
Ideally, the Yankees would sign a new infielder before the deadline, but possibilities are limited. Currently, the Bombers rely on DJ LeMahieu to control the hot corner, and he’s hitting a pitiful.194/.288/.223. LeMahieu has been entirely ineffective in terms of the team’s attacking output, serving as more of a burden than an asset.
GM Cashman Addresses the Team’s Struggles
Cashman finally talked to the media on Tuesday about the team’s recent meltdown, emphasizing that their good start has helped them endure this cold spell. He recognized that the downward trend has lasted longer than expected, indicating that he will be aggressive at the trade deadline in a few weeks.
“Thankfully, we got out of the gates really strong. Hopefully, that cushion will allow us to work through this — hopefully sooner than later, because it’s gone long enough. But it’s been a tough stretch for us.”
Recent Acquisitions and Future Considerations
The team recently added JD Davis to provide some backup at first and third base, but the veteran is hitting only.221/.293/.346 this season, with four home runs and six RBIs. He is unlikely to have a huge impact on the squad, but Cashman did imply that the team had “areas to improve upon” and that he will be “open-minded to a lot of different things.”
