NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 28: Joey Gallo #13 of the New York Yankees at bat during the second inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on June 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees should make three moves before the trade deadline passes on August 2.
The New York Yankees are a very oiled machine. Entering the unofficial second half of the season, they have the best offense in the sport (121 wRC+ is tops in the majors) and (by ERA) they have the third-best pitching staff in the sport (3.09 ERA).
There’s a reason why they have the best record in baseball and are on pace for 113 wins. Even with being that dominant, they have some areas that they have to address on their team.
If they trade for Juan Soto, they will be a huge force to be reckoned with in the postseason as well but they have to make three moves before the trade deadline that aren’t trading for Soto.
3 moves the Yankees must make before the trade deadline
1. Trade/DFA Joey Gallo
Joey Gallo has been a big hole in the lineup for a long time. Sure, he hits for power, walks a lot, and is good on defense but he has been flat-out awful at the plate.
Entering the second half, he had five hits in his last 57 at-bats (.088 batting average) with two home runs, five RBI, 14 walks, and 27 strikeouts. That was in 22 games. Aaron Hicks has been much better lately (.333/.478/.722 slash line in his 12 games in July). Judge and Stanton are their two best bats as it is.
Especially if they get Soto, the Yankees have no room for a player that can barely even make contact with the ball.