JUST IN: New York Yankees lose top trade targets
The New York Yankees boast one of the top farm systems in MLB, positioning them well to acquire nearly any player available at the trade deadline. However, it appears that one of their prime trade targets won’t be available this summer.
The Yankees’ scouting department is among the best in baseball, excelling at identifying talent both within the minors and across the league. They have a knack for finding players they can elevate from good to great, influencing their trade pursuits each summer.
This trend is most evident with the bullpen. While the Yankees are often linked to high-profile trade candidates like Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller, they typically prefer to seek out lesser-known options. However, there is a rising hitter that New York aimed to acquire in July.
Recently, reports indicated that the Yankees had a strong interest in Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon. However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that Colorado is not willing to trade the 29-year-old infielder this summer.
Despite being one of the worst teams in baseball and languishing near the bottom of the MLB standings for the past two years, the Rockies, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted in early June, are known for their reluctance to be active at the trade deadline and their unwillingness to undertake a full rebuild.
This does not reflect New York’s ability to execute a major trade or general manager Brian Cashman’s readiness to be aggressive. The Yankees’ top prospects and the depth of their farm system are sufficient to trade for McMahon or a similarly talented player with a long-term contract. The issue lies with Colorado’s unwillingness to trade.
With McMahon off the table, the Yankees will shift their focus to other available first basemen and third basemen this summer. Even before Anthony Rizzo’s injury on Sunday, the Yankees were exploring options for his replacement.
Whether this involves moving DJ LeMahieu to first base and acquiring a third baseman, or directly replacing Rizzo, the Yankees will be evaluating their options in the coming weeks.