The thought of the Yankees selling at the trade deadline seems almost unprecedented, but it's a decision Brian Cashman has made before.
The scenario the Yankees face this year isn't the same as the one in 2016, but it's not so far off. New York was three games over .500 when Aroldis Chapman was traded to the Cubs seven years ago, and Cashman opted to sell pieces despite the team winning five of its last seven games before that move.
This season, the presence of an additional wild-card spot could make a major difference. The Yankees would be two more games out of a postseason spot if not for the third wild card.
Another major difference between 2016 and 2023 is the lack of tradeable pieces. Chapman, Andrew Miller and even Carlos Beltran were sought after at the 2016 deadline. Do the Yankees have anyone who can bring back serious value this year?
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Here's a closer look at why the Yankees might decide to sell and who they could trade.
Will the Yankees sell at the trade deadline?
The Yankees don't have to formally give up on the season to do some selling. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported shortly after the All-Star break that the Yankees could take a buy-and-sell approach to get under the luxury tax threshold.
That sounds much like what the Red Sox did last year when they dealt major league players and acquired others. Even the Yankees dealt from the major league roster in 2022 when they traded Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader.
With that being said, the likelihood of the Yankees making a deep postseason run this year, with or without Aaron Judge, seems low. The American League doesn't have a clear favorite, which leaves the door open, but New York will, it appears, have to beat out the Blue Jays and Red Sox just to reach the playoffs.
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Is this Yankees team built to compete with younger, more dynamic teams like the Orioles and Rangers in October? Is there a move that can be made that can put the Yankees in position to go head-to-head with those clubs? These are essential questions that Cashman has to ask himself before charting a path.
The Yankees have an older roster and don't have any surefire stars in their prospect well. If New York goes all in at the deadline just to suffer another early exit in October or miss the postseason entirely, that could set the franchise back even further.
Who could the Yankees trade at the deadline?
The Yankees don't have many attractive trade pieces, which underlines how disappointing the state of the franchise is right now. Still, getting something for expendable players is better than nothing, and New York got something of value for Joey Gallo last season in surging prospect Clayton Beeter.
Here are a few trade candidates if the Yankees decide to make moves around the Aug. 1 deadline.
Luis Severino, P
If the Yankees decide to sell or even just make changes to their roster, Severino could be a candidate for a change of scenery.
How much could the Yankees get back for the right-hander, who has a 6.46 ERA and will be a free agent after the season? Not a haul, but a handful of teams, such as the Reds, Diamondbacks and Dodgers, desperately need pitching help down the stretch. Severino is a name that a team like Cincinnati or Arizona can afford to take a chance on.
Severino has looked settled in his last two starts, including a one-run outing against the Angels, One more quality start could boost his value.
Gleyber Torres, 2B
Torres could be a trade candidate if the Yankees just sell rather than buy and sell. He has been their most impressive hitter in July with Judge out of the lineup, and they need him if they want to make a run.
New York has dangled Torres before. He was reportedly on the verge of being traded to the Marlins for Pablo Lopez at least year's deadline, and he hasn't gotten a contract extension from the Yankees a little more than a year out from free agency. With the way he has hit lately and team control through 2024, Torres can bring back some value.
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Wandy Peralta, P
Peralta is set to be a free agent after the season, and he's hitting the open market at the right time. The left-hander has a 2.37 ERA and four saves in 45 appearances this season. A 4.70 FIP indicates regression could be coming, so it might benefit the Yankees to get something for him while they can.
Harrison Bader, CF
Bader seems more like an extension candidate than a trade candidate as the Yankees continue to search for outfielders, but the reality is he's a pending free agent and one of the only tradeable players on the roster who could bring back something of value.
Bader missed nearly half of the season due to injury and has compiled a pedestrian .700 OPS when healthy. He provides defensive value, but he doesn't get on base enough and his power is inconsistent. If Cashman opts to sell, dealing Bader ($5.2 million AAV) would be a way to save some money.
Tommy Kahnle, P
Back for a second stint with the Yankees, Kahnle has been everything the team could have hoped for since his return from injury. He has a 2.25 ERA through 21 appearances and has allowed just one home run.
The veteran has postseason experience and could be a stabilizing force for a contender — if the Yankees decide that's not what they are.
