The New York Yankees only have so many prime Aaron Judge years left.
This is a team with plenty of needs at the trade deadline, such as depth starting pitching and another high-leverage relief pitcher. But, no need is more prominent than the hot corner, which continues to hinder the Yankees.
To avoid wasting arguably the greatest right-handed batter in baseball history’s career, New York should go all-in this deadline, a scary notion but one necessary to not only repeat as American League champions but to finally capture the World Series for the first time since 2009.
National Treasure
One option the New York Yankees could look at is Washington Nationals infielder Amed Rosario. Here is what MLB Insider Jon Heyman had to say about a Rosario to New York trade:
“Amed Rosario would be a good fit for [the] Yankees. Played a lot of 3B this year. .802 lifetime OPS vs. lefties (.845 this year). [Eugenio] Suárez is [their] top target but many would qualify as upgrades.”
Rosario, 29, is in the final year of his contract, which pays him $2 million. Washington should have no hesitation in sacrificing those deals for prospects.
He is putting together another solid campaign at the plate, with a .271 batting average, a .742 OPS, a 111 OPS+, five home runs, 18 RBIs, and seven walks to 22 strikeouts over 45 games and 144 at-bats.
One of the best parts of Rosario’s game is his defensive versatility. He has mostly seen time at third base (182 and 2/3 innings) and second base (119 innings) this summer, and has played a majority of his MLB career at shortstop (more than 85% of his career innings).
Rosario is not limited to the infield, either, as he has seen plenty of run in the outfield over the years. That is a nice bonus, but New York needs him at the five.
While he is mostly a platoon player for the Nationals, he would have a real chance at everyday opportunities with the Yankees. Rosario is not necessarily a marquee name, but, as Heyman pointed out, New York would be better off with almost anybody on the market than their current third base situation.
The Cold Corner
After Oswaldo Cabrera went down with a likely season-ending ankle injury, the New York Yankees were left with an even bigger hole at a position that was already problematic. General manager Brian Cashman did little to address third base in the offseason, and his negligence is coming back to haunt the team.
Oswald Peraza has assumed the bulk of the responsibilities, and while he has demonstrated a stellar glove, his bat is nowhere near MLB-caliber. Through 67 games and 153 at-bats, the 25-year-old has a .150 batting average, a .454 OPS, a 27 OPS+, three home runs, 13 RBIs, and 11 walks to 46 strikeouts.
Peraza’s primary backup, Jorbit Vivas, has not shown much at the plate yet, either. New York did have DJ LeMahieu, but age is catching up to him, and he did not have the physical tools necessary to thrive on either side of the ball.
There is also Jazz Chisholm Jr., who has taken over as the regular second baseman. Moving him to third solves nothing, however, as the Yankees would have the same issue at second base.
Rosario is not Eugenio Suárez, but that does not mean he can not help this club.
Yankees Urged to Trade for .742 OPS Utility Man