By Owen Hetherington
July 20, 2021
Imagine this. The date is July 18, 2021, and the Yankees are taking on the first place Boston Red Sox. The Yankees start three guys in the outfield that you’ve likely never heard of before (Ryan LaMarre in left field, Greg Allen in center, and Trey Amburgey in right field). You think all hope is gone, but somehow the Yankees pull off the win in one of the most exciting games Yankees fans have witnessed all season.
You weren’t dreaming. It was reality.
Sunday Night Baseball in the Bronx. #SquadUp pic.twitter.com/Ik9eMwasUY — New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 18, 2021
I’m going to be honest, when I saw this lineup, I almost laughed out loud. How could you not?
Regardless of how exciting Sunday night’s game was, there was a clear indication that moves need to be made to give this team any chance at playing October baseball before the Yankees could even take the field.
Then, the game starts. Trey Amburgey leaves the game at the top of the 5th inning after injuring his hamstring trying to beat out a double play. Amburgey’s injury forced Brett Gardner into the center field, who is having a horrific year at the plate and has declined significantly defensively, and LaMarre to right. Next man up mentality lives on in Yankee universe.
Trey Amburgey done for the season. Next man up. pic.twitter.com/M8IlORILUA — Yankees Home Runs (@Yankeeshomeruns) July 19, 2021
It takes the first ball put in play in the 5th inning, a double from Christian Vasquez, to put Yankees fans on the edge of their couch, as LaMarre gave up his body to make a leaping catch at the wall.
This is unreal. Literally minutes after Trey Amburgey came out of the game with a leg injury, Ryan LaMarre slams into the wall trying to make a catch and is shaken up, being looked at by trainers. The 2021 #Yankees… — Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 19, 2021
The way LaMarre crashed into the wall, it honestly looked like he was going to have to be pulled from the game. However, LaMarre had other plans and homered in the 8th inning.
“You don’t get too many chances to wear the pinstripes” Ryan LaMarre on refusing to come out of the game today. Need more guys with this mentality. pic.twitter.com/O97vvLop6A — The Short Porch (@short_porch) July 19, 2021
Regardless of LeMarre’s efforts in the Yankees 9-1 win on Sunday, the Yankees desperately need help in the outfield.
The @MLB Trade Deadline is in 12 days. Per sources, the @Yankees are checking in on outfielders everywhere, the @Dodgers are “on the starting pitcher warpath” and the @Athletics are scouring the market for relief help. Expect a lot of movement between now and July 30. — Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 18, 2021
The Yankees are not healthy in the outfield position right now. Judge is out due to Covid-19 protocols and Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar are on the I.L. It’s apparent that the Yankees are reluctant to put Stanton in the outfield, leaving no other option for Brian Cashman to go out and trade for an outfielder, preferably one that is left-handed at the plate.
So, the million-dollar question becomes, who should the Yankees trade for?
Starling Marte is a possible trade candidate for the Yankees. After declining an extension with the Miami Marlins, the 32-year-old veteran will likely be traded at the deadline so the Marlins can acquire prospects without letting him walk in Free Agency.
In 56 games with the Marlins this season, Marte is slashing .290/.344/.450 with 7 HR and 22 RBI in his first 56 games this season. He also provides speed on the bases, ranking 3rd in the National League and 4th in Major League Baseball in stolen bases this season. He would fit nicely into the Yankees lineup and would indisputably be the Yankees starting CF. The downside: he’s not exactly the power lefty bat the Yankees are looking for to crush homers into the short porch.
If the Yankees are trying to avoid another righty bat in the lineup, the obvious fit would be trading for Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers.
His stroke and power at the plate is destiny for this Yankees lineup. In 88 games played with the Rangers this season, Gallo is batting .233 with 24 homers and 52 RBI. Over his last 17 games however, Gallo is batting .302 with 11 homers and 19 RBI to raise his batting average from .218 to .233. He leads all of baseball in walks with 72 and his 24 homers were his most ever prior to the All-Star break. Gallo is someone I’m personally high on as he’s versatile in the outfield and is exactly the player the Yankees need to remain competitive.
It’s obvious that the Yankees are on the edge of being buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. But, their promising series against the Red Sox this past weekend proved that they aren’t ready to throw in the towel. Whether or not a trade would help the Yankees make the playoffs right now, a trade needs to happen for future construction of the Yankees roster.
Brett Gardner’s play has likely cost him any chance at playing in pinstripes again after this season. He’s been one heck of a player to watch but is on his way out of the Bronx after this season.
Aaron Hicks has been injury prone since signing an extension worth $70,000,000 through 2026. He has not shown any sign of maintaining the role as the Yankees starting CF. Through his first 32 games of the season, Hicks was batting under .200 and was completely lifeless at the plate. On top of his offense, his defensive routes in the outfield are concerning. Hicks isn’t exactly the guy that the Yankees should lean on in the future.
Clint Frazier has not shown up in the big moments this season and is struggling. He’s batting .186 with 65 strikeouts. Maybe Clint isn’t all we thought he would be as a starter.
A trade for an outfielder not only helps this team now but could help this team in future years. Whether they trade for Marte, Gallo, or someone else, the Yankees need outfield assistance and they need it immediately.
