HomeFeaturesYankees Roster Analysis: Who to Trade

Yankees Roster Analysis: Who to Trade

The New York Yankees are not winning the World Series this year. They may fight and claw and be a pest to the rest of the American League East but, with the age and talent level of the current roster, a run at a 28th Championship is not in the cards. Any self-respecting Yankees fan knows we don’t rebuild, we retool. Some big contracts are done at the end of the season, while others can be traded early. What follows is a roster analysis of who to trade.
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Carlos Beltran: His contract is up at season’s end. While he could still provide a solid bat for the team in the post-season, getting him moved would open up things for Aaron Hicks, who is only 26 and full of promise. The smart move would be to give Hicks some at-bats and real game reps. Playing the last two months of the season would be good for him and for the future of the team.
Mark Teixeira: History tells us he always starts slow, but at age 36, could “Father Time” be collecting his debts? As a DH or pinch hitter, he can add value to a team. “Tex” has battled injuries over the past few years, and the Yankees would be smart to move him mid-summer. This way, he has trade value before going on the disabled list.
Greg Bird: Once he returns from surgery, the job is his to lose next year.
Brett Gardner: Gardner is a fitting puzzle piece for any team looking to be a playoff contender. That said, and given the fact that he is having a career year so far, New York could get a 1 or 2 players for him. If the Yanks can make moves and keep him, then by all means they should, but if not there is a ton of trade value here.
Brian McCann: McCann has a full no-trade clause, but we’ve heard that before. It would be nice to let Gary Sanchez go full-time and build some chemistry with the pitching staff.
Didi Gregorius
By season’s end, the Yanks could have Starlin Castro, Greg Bird (back from shoulder surgery in 2017), and Didi Gregorius along with Sanchez, Hicks and Judge. Giving the promising talent playing time at the end of the season, along with money to spend in the summer, should give the Yankees a fresh coat of paint going into next year. The Bombers never just roll over, but it’s time to think about the future and make some moves for 2017. Realistically, the Yankees aren’t built to win the World Series as-is, so they need to sell, sell, sell.
For more Yankees insight and analysis, follow Joe Cardoso on Twitter @Cright.


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