Yankees might need Blue Jays to save their trade deadline after Cody Bellinger injury

During this past offseason, the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays fought for the services of free agent Cody Bellinger. In the end, the Yankees won out in re-signing the outfield slugger to a massive five-year, $162.5 million deal.

However, Bellinger recently sustained a hamstring strain during a game between New York and the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend. He is expected to be sidelined from four to six weeks as per Sportsnet. This leaves the Yankees with a huge hole to temporarily fill down the stretch. The irony is that the Yankees might now need the Blue Jays to help save their season at the trade deadline in light of Bellinger’s injury.

That is because the Blue Jays have ample left-handed hitting outfielders that could be attractive trade targets for New York. Whether it be veterans in Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes or the recovering Jesús Sánchez. Perhaps they could also covet the younger cohort in Yohendrick Piñango or RJ Schreck (who has yet to make his major league debut). Either way, Toronto has a lot to offer to their division rivals.

With Toronto likely selling at the trade deadline, as per MLB insider Jeff Passan, they will want to hold onto their younger talent. But with the current outfield logjam that they it wouldn't be surprising if the Blue Jays trade one of them. Consider to that next season Anthony Santander and Addison Barger will be returning from their injuries. Piñango might be the more attractive piece of the two, having made his MLB debut already this season while batting a solid .259 with a .704 OPS, along with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 56 games with the Jays.

Yankees need immediate impact with divsion title up for grabs

However, the veteran options would be more plausible. Lukes would be good if New York is looking for a contact hitter that can hit for average, as the 32-year-old outfielder has batted .281 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 72 games with Toronto this season.

If the Yankees want elite defense along with some potential power, Varsho would be the ideal option. He has struggled offensively this year with the Jays, compiling a .244 average, .685 OPS with just seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 94 games played to date. But he has a proven track record as a former gold glove winner, and he could get hot in the right environment.

Finally, if New York wants to replace the power production left by Bellinger, Sánchez has to be the target. The 28-year-old outfielder has flashed glimpses of offensive potential with the Blue Jays at times this year, compiling a .274 average, .753 OPS, with seven home runs and 29 RBIs before landing on the IL with a right ankle sprain in June. But with Sánchez already in rehab games, he could be back just in time for the trade deadline.

However, the Yankees could stand pat with Bellinger likely to be back with New York by September, they won’t want to blow their bank of prospects for a temporary fix, making the Jays’ options that much more attractive.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow