RUMORS IN YANKEELAND: PART 2

Who likes rumors? We do. We like finding them and writing about them. If any of them turn out to be true that makes it even better. The Yankees have made a lot of moves this season. Some of them turned out to be pleasant surprises who have been an anchor to the team. Some have had a relatively short stay. So anything can happen. Who else is out there that could be Bronx bound?

There are some interesting name out there, and one that you may not have heard of. Thanks to some recent success from signings on the international scene I think this draft will have more attention. I guess we have Yu Darvish and Yoenis Cespedes to thank for that. It does make baseball exciting though, and that is even more true when you look at how many fans were following the World Baseball Classic this year.

This year, the Yankees were rumored to have some interest in a top ten international prospect named Leonardo Molina, read that HERE. Supposedly, the Yankees were rumored to be the favorite. We have heard that before though so who knows if it was actually true. I say WAS only because Major League baseball changed their mind yesterday and have decided to cancel the draft until after the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in 2016, read more on all of this HERE. So who knows what will come of Molina, but if he somehow manages to find his way to New York someday, you heard the speculation here from us!

But back to familiar territory now, If I were a betting woman I would take my money to the nearest casino and bet that the Yankees were going to shop for a right handed bat. You could tell during Wednesday night's game against the New York Mets that the Yankees need more right handed bats because right now lefties are just stacked against them in a never ending line. Once Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis come back that will help, but it may not be enough. So who is available?

Mike Morse: He started off the season swinging a hot bat. Since then he has cooled down a little, and some think that unless the Mariners can turn their season around he may be on the chopping block regardless of him signing with the Mariners in the off season, read more HERE. The Yankees were interested during the off season, but when he wasn't interested in a one year deal, like many other free agents, it never amounted to anything. If the Mariners do fall out he would make a nice addition to the roster. His bat may not be as hot right now but don't let the .254BA fool you. He does have 11HR, 21RBI and he knows how to get on base. Plus add his bat in the lineup and I am sure those home runs will go up. He is also very versatile. He could fill in at first, shortstop and the outfield so it will help give some guys some much needed rest right now. I like the possibility.

Josh Willingham: He is one possibility on a very suspect Minnesota Twins team. The Twins looked like they were keeping pace pretty well in their division for awhile, but have really slipped lately. If they continue to underachieve they could be sellers by the trade deadline, read that HERE. There are a few possibilities on this team including Corey Hart but he has not played yet this year and is still rehabbing from an injury so I feel more confident in Willingham. His .212BA isn't pretty but he does have 9HR and 24RBI on the season. More importantly, if the recovery doesn't go as expected for Curtis Granderson then we have someone else who can play left field.

I do believe that the Yankees are going to focus on a right handed bat, and if one of these guys becomes available then hopefully the Yankees will make the move. As good as we have been, we could be even better with another right handed bat. Stay tuned, and if anything happens you know we will fill you in here at Bleeding Yankee Blue.

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ



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