Yankees Trade Rumors: New York Should Continue Pursuit of Michael Young
July 28, 2013 · Rob Goldberg · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Even after acquiring Alfonso Soriano in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, the New York Yankees should remain active in the trade market.
While the veteran outfielder will provide some much-needed help in the power department, especially from the right side of the plate, the team still needs more. The squad struggles to score runs and it needs additional offensive help in order to contend for a playoff spot.
One possible addition would be Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Michael Young. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the team had interest prior to acquiring Soriano:
Although this seemed bleak, Buster Olney of ESPN reported that the team has softened its stance on the trade and are now willing to listen to offers:
It is likely the eight-game losing streak by the Phillies heading into the trade deadline caused the change of mindset in the front office.
Despite the team’s struggles, Young has still been solid at the plate this season. He has a .277 batting average, which ranks third among qualified National League third basemen. He also has seven home runs with 18 doubles and an on-base percentage of .342.
These numbers might not stand out across the league, but they seem Ruthian compared to what the Yankees have gotten from the position.
With Alex Rodriguez still yet to play a game this year, New York ranks dead last in the majors with a .219 batting average from third basemen. The team also ranks last with a .291 slugging percentage thanks to only four home runs on the year.
It is clear that the squad needs to find a way to get production from this position in order to contend for the rest of the year.
Of course, there is the possibility that this could come from Rodriguez when he returns from his current injury. Unfortunately, he could end up being banned until 2015 by Major League Baseball due to the use performance-enhancing drugs, according to Joel Sherman and Kevin Davidoff of the New York Post.
Even though the Yankees might not find out about a pending suspension until after the deadline, the team needs to hedge its bets by bringing in Young.
The third baseman is a .300 career hitter who is only two years removed from finishing in the top 10 of the MVP voting. He would help provide depth to the Yankee lineup while giving the team even more experience heading into the final months.
This would be a smart addition to the team, and the organization should do what it takes to complete the deal.
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