WHAT SHOULD THE YANKEES DO WITH A SLUMPING AUSTIN WELLS?

It's no secret, Austin Wells is in an offensive slump. It's baseball, slumps happen but now is definitely not the best time to have one. So what do the Yankees DO about? The series shifts to Cleveland, and the Guardians NEED a win today. So do the Yankees ride with Austin behind the plate or make a move?

The Yankees definitely need a shake up in the lineup. Aaron Boone has already suggested he could move Giancarlo Stanton up in the lineup against lefty Matt Boyd and give him cleanup duties.... but is that the ONLY change he would make? Maybe not, because he's also hinted at giving Jose Trevino some playing time, read more HERE. Maybe this is where Bonne makes the switch, but should he?

Gotta love playoff baseball, where anything can happen, and anything should be considered. Any move made, could help determine when you play for championship or not. If I am Boone, my move would be cleaning up the cleanup spot. Wells needs to move down in the order but I'm sticking with Wells behind the plate. He hasn't made an impact with the bat, but he sure has with his glove.

Just because the Yankees are up 2-0 in this series, these games are too important to consider playing lineup roulette and rotating impactful pieces in and out. Nothing against Trevino, but even without any offense from Wells, he still gives the Yankees the best shot at winning. He may be ice cold with the bat, but he's hot with the glove. He was important to the Yankees win on Tuesday night.

The Yankees batting lineup can be reworked and still be effective. I still prefer Wells' bat over Trevino's. If you move Wells down in the lineup it takes some pressure off him so it may help him start hitting more. Trevino isn't an upgrade over Wells, and he hasn't played since September 29th, he's cold. Behind the plate, Wells has the better arm, and I have more confidence that he will keep the Guardians honest. He's better defensively and he's got the better arm. He has a better shot of throwing a runner out then Trevino. The Guardians could really test Trevino's arm and that's not something I want to be brave and experiment with when the Guardians have their backs against the wall. 

I'm riding with Wells. He's the better catcher. We saw him start to show hints of him coming out of his slump the other night. He hit one pretty hard.... but right at a Guardian. Take off some of the pressure in the batter's box and I still think he gives the Yankees the better chance to win, especially on the road.

Boone just needs to reimagine his batting order.... but not who's catching behind the plate. Don't overcomplicate and try to get fancy. You go with your best catcher, and there is no doubt that is Wells.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK...

Bauer, Bumgarner, Boyd and Syndergaard, oh my...and now Bauer, traded to the Reds, is off the list as the clock keeps on ticking. What if the Yankees do nothing at the trade deadline? What if they go with what they have for pitching?  Could they still win?

Source: NJ.com

The NY Post's Joel Sherman published an article last night that laid it all out. "I understand Cashman’s hesitance. It took him a long time to convince his bosses to stop building rosters by star hunting, being overly emotional and throwing their wallet at problems. He has constructed a system with scouts and analytics and sports science and psychological and financial breakdowns to avoid the overheated overpay. But this starting market is not going to honor discipline. And the Yankees need a starter."

So, between a mixture of openers coupled with the return of guys like Jonathan Loaisiga, the Yankees could piece it together.  But do they want to take that risk?

"Boone said Severino could throw off a mound within the next week or so. Severino hasn’t pitched all season but the Yankees are hoping he can boost their rotation by at least September," reported the NJ.com.

Source: Yahoo Sports

The bottom line is, with the way our pitchers have performed over the last week and half, do the Yankees beef up their rotations internally or go for another guy who may need a change as much as the Yankees do?   Without giving up the farm, but wanting to add a guy from the outside, what will they decide to do as the clock ticks toward midnight on the last trading day of the year?

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

REMEMBER SHANE GREENE? THE DUDE MAY COME BACK

Remember Shane Greene? The same Shane Greene that got mad opportunity in New York, but then bashed the Yankees anyway when they needed to trade him, because well... he was disgruntled? (Read HERE)

Well... he could be back in New York real soon to help give the Yankees some bullpen help.

George King III of the New York Post has this amazing nugget and I wanted to share it:

"While the asking price for Tigers starter Matthew Boyd might be too high for the Yankees, right-handed reliever Shane Greene, a former Yankee, is expected to be dealt and the Yankees have been shopping for bullpen help, too. The Tigers had a scout following Double-A Trenton for the past week and will go with the Thunder to Erie. 

Right-hander Deivi Garcia is considered by some organizations to be the Yankees’ top-overall prospect so it’s not likely the Yankees would deal him straight up for Greene, a 30-year-old who will be a free agent after the 2020 season."

Now don't get crazy. While King is reporting about Garcia, there is no way in hell Cashman and the Yankees deal this kid. It would have to be a crafty deal with either get Greene straight up by trading someone else or get both Boyd and Greene in a mini-blockbuster.

Whatever the case I am surprised the Yankees would even consider Greene who had a field day blasting the Yankees after he was traded back in the day.

Hey... that's old news. Wanna be part of a winning club? Come to New York... that's new news!

Stay tuned on this one.

PRICE REPORTEDLY TO TORONTO

So much for the Yankees getting David Price. According to ESPN Toronto Blue Jays are giving up Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jario Labourt and will receive Price. Toronto recently got Troy Tulowitzki from the Rockies. Price went to the Tigers last year before trade deadline, but with their current record of 49 - 52, and being fourth in the AL Central, they are looking to completely reboot.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are staying true to their claims that their top four prospects - Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Jorge Mateo - will not be available. It's what prevented us from getting Cole Hamels. I wouldn't be surprised if that's also what kept us from Price. Or maybe we weren't making a serious bid for him in the first place. Who knows!

Bright side to this? The Yankees are pretty constantly productive against Price. So there you have it folks. Price to the Blue Jays, and the Yankees still get nothing.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

  


You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!