There are a few teams around the league in much different positions than the New York Yankees. Among them are the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates have played better over the past few weeks, but all indications suggest they’ll be sellers at the trade deadline. Unless something drastic changes, there are expected to be a few moves from the Pirates, and the Yankees should benefit from that.
When recently searching for ways the Yankees could benefit from that, Sports Illustrated proposed a trade idea for New York to land Ke’Bryan Hayes, a rumored Yankees trade target.
New York Yankees Receive
3B Ke’Bryan Hayes
Pittsburgh Pirates Receive
RHP JT Brubaker
Prospect RHP Carlos Lagrange
“The Yankees are no strangers to headline-grabbing deadline moves, but Ke’Bryan Hayes would represent more of an under-the-radar upgrade than a flashy blockbuster. While his bat hasn’t blossomed quite as expected and past back issues have hampered his availability, there are signs of life at the plate. Since June 8, Hayes has quietly hit .274.
“Even if he’s not as enticing offensively as Eugenio Suárez, Hayes could instantly elevate the Yankees’ infield defense and offer long-term stability at the hot corner. He can’t be any worse than Oswald Peraza, who’s currently batting a dismal .149 with just three home runs,” they wrote.
What Are the Pirates Looking for in a Return Package?
From the New York Yankees’ perspective, that wouldn’t be a bad deal to make. However, it remains uncertain what the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking for.
According to Sports Illustrated, with the Pirates still in a rebuilding situation, the team could be interested in taking back this type of package.
“The Pirates are still firmly in rebuild mode in the National League, and with Hayes battling injuries and trending downward at the plate, the front office may decide he’s more trouble than he’s worth. In this hypothetical deal, Pittsburgh would land a promising young arm in Carlos Lagrange — who’s posted a 4-2 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in Double-A — potentially slotting into a future rotation headlined by Paul Skenes.
“They’d also reunite with veteran reliever JT Brubaker, bringing a steady bullpen presence to a young pitching staff. Plus, dealing Hayes would open the door for the Bucs to take a closer look at infield prospects like Jack Brannigan or Jhonny Severino, both of whom could be ready for a crack at third base,” they added/
Does Hayes Fix the Yankees’ Problems?
It’s tough to say that Hayes would be a perfect player for the New York Yankees, or come close to fixing all of their needs.
However, outside of Eugenio Suarez, it’s tough to say that any player in the league would give them that, who could be available.
Hayes is currently hitting just .238 with only two home runs, posting a 62 OPS+. This is now the second consecutive season he has had an OPS+ below 65, which is significantly below the league’s average of 100.
He’s an excellent defender, winning a Gold Glove Award during the 2023 campaign, but the Yankees need some more offensive firepower, and he doesn’t bring that.
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