Now that we are only a few short months away from the trade deadline, who could be on the move from the New York Yankees?
The 2019 season is now over six weeks underway and as the Yankees enter their first series against the division-leading Rays, we’re starting to see the beginning of a potential three-team battle for the AL East between the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox. As the summer gets closer and the games get more intense and have higher stakes, teams are starting to look at players they could acquire at July’s trade deadline to add that last arm or bat for the season’s final few months.
A few weeks ago, I detailed some players that the Yankees could look to acquire at the deadline, but as the saying goes, you have to give something to get something. So with that in mind, here are some players that we could see the Yankees ship off at the deadline.
Jonathan Loaisiga
The Nicaraguan right-hander known by many as “Johnny Lasagna” made his debut last June and has seen a bit of big-league action this season, though he hasn’t been too impressive in his four appearances. In his three starts and one relief appearance, he has posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP on his way to a 1-1 record. His last appearance was his poorest of the season, as he allowed four earned runs and six hits in four innings, only striking out three as he took the loss in the Yankees’ blowout 10-1 loss to the Mariners.
Despite his lack of success in the major leagues so far, Loaisiga has shown that he has a nice array of pitches and an explosive arm, and he ranks as the team’s second-best prospect and a top pitching prospect. With James Paxton, Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery all returning later this season, Loaisiga could become expendable come the deadline, and he could definitely be a name other teams would be intrigued by to headline a trade package.
Tyler Wade
Much like he did in 2018 when he shocked many by making the team’s Opening Day roster, Wade excelled in Spring Training this season and looked to compete for a bench spot as a solid contact hitter with wizardly defense and fantastic speed. Despite narrowly missing making the Opening Day roster this year, Wade was called up less than a week into the season when the team lost a number of players to injuries.
His speed and defense have been incredible as always, but his offense yet again just wasn’t up to par With Thairo Estrada also on the bench, Wade had little value to keep on the roster when Miguel Andujar returned, so he was sent down to Triple-A. With the Yankees slowly but surely beginning to get some of their players back from the IL, Wade’s future with the team is beginning to look uncertain.
Although his major league career has been rather disappointing thus far, he is still very young and has shown that he has the tools to be a serviceable major league player, so he could be another intriguing piece to add to a package for a deadline acquisition.
Greg Bird
Of all the young Baby Bombers that Yankees fans dreamed of for so many years, Bird has far and away been the most underwhelming. After an impressive rookie season in 2015, he has been hampered by a seemingly endless list of injuries and hasn’t produced much when he’s been on the field either. His otherworldly Spring Training numbers this season gave some fans an ounce of hope that he could finally be shaping up to be the player everyone has hoped, but he hit just .171 to start the season before falling victim to yet another injury.
A change of scenery could help Bird flourish in another organization and left-handed power bats are always in demand, so he could definitely have a number of suitors in a potential trade, but it seems like his days as a Yankee may be over.
Given that his trade value is very low right now, it might make more sense for the team to hold onto him and trade him in the offseason or next season instead of this season, but nevertheless, he is a name that we could for sure see moved this July.
What are we trading for?
Here’s a piece I did a few weeks back on some potential players the team could go after. https://unhingedyankees.com/2019/04/13/yankees-potential-trade-deadline-targets/