Aaron Boone in the dugout during a game against the Mariners.
The New York Yankees will have an opportunity to improve at the trade deadline, but it remains uncertain what they’ll do. For multiple reasons, the Yankees aren’t exactly in the best position to make a blockbuster trade. Not only is the Yankees’ farm system below average, but New York will have to deal with multiple teams looking to buy.
With many teams around the league playing well at the moment, and the third Wild Card spot, it makes buying a bit more competitive, at least it has in recent years.
Despite that, Sports Illustrated recently took a look at players who could be traded around Major League Baseball, and linked the Yankees to a trade for Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna. If Ozuna gets traded, there’s a good chance that he’ll be the best player moved at the deadline, offensively.
“After mashing 79 homers over the last two seasons and finishing fourth in NL MVP voting last year, Ozuna’s power has significantly fallen off in his age-34 season, though he’s partially compensated by trailing only Juan Soto in walk rate (17.3%).
“It’s hard to imagine the Braves waving the white flag unless things really unravel, especially after they won the 2021 World Series with a late-season surge sparked by additions from GM Alex Anthopoulos. But if Atlanta ends up dealing anyone, it’ll probably be their only pending free agent of much value,” SI wrote.
Are the Braves Looking to Sell?
The Atlanta Braves are in a weird position. If they don’t want to sell at the deadline, they don’t have to, as there’s reason to believe they could potentially be a playoff team.
For the New York Yankees and other teams around the league interested in Ozuna, that’s horrible news, but there are other things that have to be factored in here for the Yankees and others. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, because Ozuna has been in the league for 10 years and five years with the Braves, he can reject a trade.
“Marcell Ozuna is included in a lot of trade speculation. But if the Braves ever decided to sell, there’s no guarantee he would accept a trade. He has 10-5 rights — 10 years in the big leagues, five years with the same team — and can veto any trade,” he wrote.
What Are the Yankees Looking to Add?
It was reported a few weeks ago that the New York Yankees were interested in adding a right-handed bat, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“The Yankees are aggressively searching for a right-handed bat, preferably a third baseman, while also looking for another starter,” he wrote.
Nightengale continues to suggest that the Yankees are looking for a right-handed bat, but he also added that they’re keeping a close eye on a few third basemen. For the New York Yankees, this could mean that they’re not interested in adding an outfielder.
“They badly need a third baseman or a second baseman, and realize there’s 0% chance that the Red Sox answering their prayers by trading them Alex Bregman,” Nightengale wrote. “They are keeping a close eye on (Eugenio) Suarez and (Isiah) Kiner-Falefa, which would allow them to move Jazz Chisholm back to second base.
The idea of adding Ozuna is an exciting one, considering what he does offensively, as he has 11 home runs in 279 at-bats and a 118 OPS+. He blasted 39 a year ago, but the Yankees outfield is already in a bit of a log jam, and this would only confuse things more.
