The New York Yankees need to get red-hot if they’re going to make the playoffs, and even if they do, there’s no guarantee they’re good enough to have any postseason success.
The Yankees begin the unofficial second half of the season Friday at 44-44, 7 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East and 5 1/2 games back in the wild card race.
There’s certainly a case to be made for the Yankees selling before the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline, but there’s apparently some disagreement within the organization in regards to the team’s plan over the next two weeks.
ESPN.com reported Thursday, via a baseball source, that there’s a split within the front office over what the Yankees should do. On one side, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman believes the team should sell and start focusing on 2017 and beyond. However, according to the ESPN.com report, the team’s “business” side — primarily owner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine — believe the team should make a playoff push.
“There’s only two people in the Tri-State area who think this team is still a contender,” a source told ESPN.com. “Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine.”
The list of players the Yankees’ baseball people wouldn’t be willing to trade is short. The ESPN.com article lists players such as Aroldis Chapman, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran as players whom the team would look to move.
The Yankees’ baseball people, according to the ESPN.com report, also would like to explore trades for Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury, though that would be difficult as both players’ contracts are viewed as burdens at this point.
There’s no denying the Yankees’ farm system could use a boost. New York’s prospect pool, at best, is considered a middle-of-the-road group, and selling off potentially valuable pieces such as Chapman and Beltran could bring a nice return for Bombers. Then again, the AL is relatively wide open. If the Yankees could get hot and sneak into the playoffs, their dominant bullpen conceivably could make them a tough out.
Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images
