THREE GUYS THE MEDIA THINKS THE YANKEES SHOULD GRAB AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

I love the trade rumor season because it's so much fun. But when I look at the Yankees, I don't feel like it's the players as much as I do the leadership when it comes to fixing. Leadership in the Bronx is terrible, the players we have are good. But let's face it, if a group of players cannot play consistently as a team, they're gonna have a tough time winning.  And that's where my heart is. The Yankees suck because their manager thinks baseball is automatic.  I mean sure, these players are getting paid a ton of dough to play well, but without solid leadership... they're just a bunch of players. It means nothing.

So of course the media jumps all over the players like that's the quick fix. Cashman has said he is engaged in a ton of talks about trades as the deadline approaches, and there you have it. For now, here are 3 names being thrown into the "Yankee fix" ring. You tell me what you think.

1. Starling Marte: 

This suggestion comes from Jim Bowden from the Athletic but lifted from Inside the Pinstripes:

"The third-most talented center fielder, in Bowden's eyes, is Starling Marte and the former general manager believes the likelihood of Marte being traded is high.

Could the Yankees be his destination? Here's an excerpt on Marte from Bowden's in-depth piece this week.

Marte would like to sign a long-term contract with the Marlins. However, it doesn’t appear the feeling is mutual because Miami has yet to offer him an extension. The 32-year-old will be among the most pursued “rentals” at the trade deadline, and if the Marlins falter, I expect them to trade the impending free agent. Marte remains an elite major leaguer who plays above-average defense in center and left field. He still has at least 20-home run and 20-stolen base ability. I think he’d be a difference-maker in the lineup for the Yankees or Red Sox.

Marte isn't a left-handed hitter, but a speedy and skillful defender in center field—a player with some serious pop at the plate—would fit right in with New York.

Entering play on Saturday, the Marlins are sitting in last place in the National League East, nine games out of first place. If Miami elects to sell at the Deadline, Marte would be one of their most valuable assets to dangle in front of other teams, seeking to recoup some talent in return."

Next... 

2. Jon Gray:

From NJ.com: "...the Colorado Rockies have activated starter Jon Gray from the injured list, clearing the right-hander to start Friday’s matinee against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Gray wound up missing three weeks due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. The 29-year-old righty holds a pedestrian 4.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 50/27 K/BB ratio across 63 innings (12 starts) this season.

The Rockies are set to be prime sellers before the July 30 non-waiver trade deadline, as they sit in fourth place in the National League West, 17.5 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants.

Gray is in his seventh season in Colorado. He finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2016 and won a career-high 12 games in 2018. According to Spotrac, Gray is making $6 million this season and will be a free agent following the 2021 World Series."

Finally... one more...

3. Jose Berrios: 

From Matt Johnson at Sportsnaut: "José Berríos is the answer to the Yankees’ problems. He is under team control through the 2022 season and should be fairly affordable thanks to arbitration. The 27-year-old righty owns a 3.41 ERA this season and an impressive 20.2% K-BB rate. Plug him in as the No. 2 starter behind Gerrit Cole, this rotation improves significantly."

Look, there are plenty more too. These are just 3 names. Bleeding Yankee Blue will be following the names the media throws out the next few weeks. We love dreaming about new athletes in pinstripes, but for me personally... we have the tools, the manager Aaron Boone sadly doesn't know how to use them.

More soon!

YANKEE TARGETS? WHO WILL THEY CHOOSE?

There's a ton of talk about what the Yankees will do to try to upgrade their pitching, especially now that we have some injury and now that of course... it's a shortened season and we should really make a move.  The Yanks want support big time, and there are big time names that keep on popping up.

Check out these names:

Mike Clevinger: 

The New York Post writes the following:

"The Indians righty was optioned to the minors along with Zack Plesac for violating team COVID-19 protocols then not being forthright with teammates about it. Clevinger cannot be a free agent until after the 2022 season — 2023 if this current option lasts 20 days, which it would not if he were traded and brought to the majors by the acquiring team by Aug. 31. Over the last four years — since joining the rotation full-time — Clevinger has a 2.97 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. However, his walk numbers were noticeable in three starts this year, plus would a new clubhouse look at him problematically, as his current one now does?"

Trevor Bauer: 

Empire State Media writes:

"Bauer is off to an incredible start this year at 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA and a WHIP of 0.570. Those are just silly numbers through his first four starts. Imagine if the Yankees were to go out right now and make a deal with the Reds for Bauer?

I know many people are going to point to the past issues with Gerrit Cole and his temperament, but I think at the end of the day, Bauer wants to compete for championships."

Kevin Gausman:

CBS Sports writes:

"As for Gausman, the Yankees know him well from his time in the AL East with the Orioles, and San Francisco has helped him post a career best strikeout rate in the early going thanks to an improved pitch mix (fewer sliders and more splitters). Gausman is a rental and has experience pitching out of the bullpen, so if Paxton returns before October, there's still a way for Gausman to contribute significantly."

Jon Gray:

The New York Post writes:

"The Rockies’ righty falls into the currently struggling talented guy who might need a change of scenery along with the Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray, the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer and maybe even the Mets’ Steven Matz. The expectation with financial uncertainty is for there to be more non-tenders this coming offseason than ever before and that could impact players such as Gray, Fulmer and Matz, so perhaps better to get something for them now rather than nothing in the offseason."

Look, it's the rumor season.  No one actually knows until it happens. That comes from the Jon Heyman toolbox, but one thing I do know is that the Yankees are looking to make a move.  

Time will tell... we shall see.