Yankees: Way Too Early 2019 Trade Deadline Predictions

The Yankees are usually pretty active once trade deadline season rolls around, so we look ahead to this year’s deadline to see what moves could be made.

If the past repeats itself again in 2019, the July trade deadline is going to be a busy time for Brian Cashman.

The Yankees have seemed to utilize the trade market to make significant moves rather than free agency in recent years. The past handful of summers the Yankees have made multiple moves to improve their roster.

In 2017 the Yankees traded for Todd Fraizer, David Robertson, and Sonny Gray. In 2018, the Yankees traded for Zach Britton, JA Happ, and Lance Lynn. If history is set to repeat it’s self, the Yankees are likely done making moves this offseason and will reevaluate the roster this summer.

Here are some way too early predictions on what those moves will be.

Trade One: Yankees land a first baseman

Yankees Get: 1B Justin Smoak

Blue Jays Get: OF Ryder Green & RHP Michael King

No one is sold on Greg Bird or Luke Voit at first base in 2019. Bird had a miserable 2018 season and was not even on the postseason roster while Voit had a magical late season run but the sample size is small.

If neither step-up and solidify themselves as everyday players the Yankees will need to add a first baseman.

Justin Smoak of the Blue Jays is the perfect rental. The Blue Jays showed they aren’t afraid to make moves with the division rival Yankees after trading JA Happ to the Bronx last summer.

Could The Yankees Use Another Starting Pitcher?

Smoak was an all-star in 2017 and crushes AL East pitching. Adding him to the lineup would make the Yankees deeper offensively.

No one is sold on Greg Bird or Luke Voit at first base in 2019. Bird had a miserable 2018 season and was not even on the postseason roster while Voit had a magical late-season run, but the sample size is small.

If neither step-up and solidify themselves as everyday players the Yankees will need to add a first baseman.

Smoak of the Blue Jays is the perfect rental. The Blue Jays showed they aren’t afraid to make moves with the division rival Yankees after trading JA Happ to the Bronx last summer. Smoak was an all-star in 2017 and crushes AL East pitching. Adding him to the lineup would make the Yankees even deeper offensively.

Trade Two: Yankees add speed

Yankees Get: Jarrod Dyson 

Diamondbacks Get: Cash or PTBNL

This trade won’t get any Yankee fans jumping out of their chairs with excitement; however, the Yankees always seem to lack speed and with Brett Gardner aging and no other base stealing threats on the roster Jarrod Dyson is the perfect low-risk high reward trade candidate.

Dyson doesn’t offer much, but his defense and baserunning stand out.

Dyson has an incredible 220 stolen bases in just seven full big league seasons. In 2018, he was held to only 67 games played and still swiped 16 bags. He’d be a perfect addition and someone the Yankees can put into steal bases and make plays in the outfield in the late innings of important games.

Trade Three: Yankees finally get an Ace

Yankees Get: SP Madison Bumgarner

Giants Get: SP Albert Abreu, SP Chance Adams & IF Thario Estrada

Now this trade would get Yankees fans excited. Despite adding James Paxton and bringing back JA Happ, the Yankees can benefit from a playoff-seasoned ace to help bring a world series to the Bronx in 2019.

There’s no one better than Madison Bumgarner who’s arguably the best postseason pitcher of all-time.

The three-time world champion and 2014 World Series MVP is a free agent at seasons end, and with the Giants unlikely to be in the playoff race Bumgarner will likely be on the block.

If the Yankees make a strong enough offer and land Mad-Bum they may just have the best-suited rotation of anyone heading into the postseason.