The MLB trade deadline is approaching, and since the Yankees are trailing the other teams in the American League playoff race, it might be time to push through some deals that otherwise would have seemed, to put it mildly, unlikely. Naturally, the Blue Jays would be hesitant to trade a star player to the Yankees, who are in the same division, especially since Vladimir Guerrero has made it known that he despises all things Pinstripes.
However, given that the Yankees have dropped four of their last five games and that their 50-22 start now seems like a distant memory in the cold light of the previous 32 games, in which they have won one-fifth of that total (10), panic buttons should be pressed.
In light of this, ESPN is suggesting that the Blue Jays give up and send Guerrero to New York in exchange for a haul of elite prospects, most likely including Spencer Jones, the team’s top prospect.
Vladimir Guerrero Previously Said He Wouldn’t Join NYY
One of those deals, according to writer Bradford Doolittle in an article titled “2024 MLB trade deadline: The deals we’d like to see,” is Guerrero joining the Yankees in the outfield. Doolittle notes that Guerrero declared, “I like to play in New York, I like to kill the Yankees,” in a Spanish-language interview two years prior. Even if I were dead, I would never sign with the Yankees.
However, it’s all relative.
The idea of a lineup that alternates between Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Guerrero four or five times per game would be impressive, Doolittle wrote. “The Bombers need help on the infield corners.”
The idea is also perverse in that Guerrero claimed he would never sign a contract with the Yankees because he was “not even dead,” which isn’t exactly logical, but you understand his point of view. (However, in June, he did flex that position.) In any case, I really like the storyline of the idea, even though I’m not sure the Yankees have enough talent to convince the Jays to trade their star player to this specific division rival. It’s a type of watching hate content.
Guerrero would be a valuable asset to the Yankee organization. He is among the most resilient players in the league and a four-time All-Star. He has a.296 slash line, a.365 on-base percentage, and a.487 slugging percentage this season. He has 18 home runs and 62 RBI on the season. He is on a $20 million one-year contract agreed upon ahead of arbitration.
Yankees Scrambling Amid Month-Long Swoon
Guerrero could be a long shot for the Yankees, but there’s no denying that this team needs a boost to prevent the kind of collapse that destroyed their seasons the past two years.
In the middle of the lineup, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have both produced. Virtually no one else has. Those two bat No. 2-3 in the lineup, but Yankees cleanup hitters have hit just 10 home runs (24th in MLB), batted .204 (last in MLB) and posted an OPS of .593 (also last).
That’s not a recipe for postseason success. The Yankees are counting on injured returning DH Giancarlo Stanton but first baseman Anthony Rizzo struggled badly all season. Guerrero can play first base, his primary position, but has started 98 games as a third baseman, too.
The Yankees need another big bat. Guerrero is one. They need some positional flexibility. Guerrero has that, too.
