What Will New York Do As The Trade Deadline Approaches?

New York began the season with a bang but before the all-star break they went into a slump and couldn't win games or the bullpen couldn't close them out. 

It was announced today  that  the   New York Yankees will quickly decide what type of team they have and what general manager Brian Cashman should do as the trade deadline approaches. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

The Yankees (45-41) begin the second half with an 11-game road trip. They have four in Boston against the first-place Red Sox, whom they currently trail by 3½ games, before going to Minnesota to play the Twins, whom they lead in the wild-card race by a single game. They finish the trip with a visit to Seattle for a reunion with an old friend, All-Star Game MVP Robinson Cano. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

The Yankees ended the first half losing 18 of 25. If they don’t play better, this year could go downhill quickly. On the other hand, if they play reasonably well -- even 5-6 -- on this upcoming stretch, they could right their ship. A little hot streak to begin the final 76 games, and maybe Cashman can say, "Let's go for it." "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

"It is an important road trip, but it, not the end-of-the-world road trip," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Let take a look at what they did the first half "according to  http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

With Matt Holliday, Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks returning after the All-Star break, or shortly thereafter, the Yankees figure to improve even without a trade. Cashman said his plan for the Yankees is to be "careful buyers." "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

The Bombers gave up their bounty of Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Beltran, Ivan Nova and Brian McCann starting last July. That helped create a farm system that allows Cashman to shop in any aisle on the trade market this year and beyond. He should be careful -- and maybe even look to be both a buyer and a seller -- if he can. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Let's assess three critical areas before the first pitch of the second half: "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Starting pitching

Coming into spring training, did you have Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery as the Yankees' most reliable starters by the halfway point? This is good news long-term, but for this year, it is dampened by the rest of the staff. The Yankees need to fortify. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Masahiro Tanaka, as inconsistent as he has been, is not going anywhere. He will stay in the rotation, and his opt-out for after the season is becoming increasingly irrelevant. If Tanaka were pitching like he did last season, the Yankees may be in first place in the division. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda, both free agents at the end of the year, are question marks, but for different reasons. Sabathia has been good, for the most part, when healthy. He's a wild card, but one the Yankees must play. Pineda, on the other hand, should be available in a deal. His market value isn't great, but if you can flip him for a semi-useful part, it might be worth it, as the Yankees seem unlikely to re-sign him. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

If Cashman wants to add a top-of-the-trade-market starter, like the Chicago White Sox's Jose Quintana, he has the goods to get it done. If Cashman gives up any of his premium talent on the farm, it likely would be for someone like Quintana, who is signed through 2020. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Relief pitching

Chapman and Dellin Betances have not fully lived up to the hype, though Betances is an All-Star for the fourth time in four years. They'll remain in their roles, but getting the ball to them is where the Yankees need a Band-Aid. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Adam Warren could be the man for the job, but Tyler Clippard just doesn't look like he has it this season. It's conceivable Cashman could add a piece or two for the pen. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

What if they traded with Miami and got right -hander David Phelps back and added him to the bullpen? David Phelps started his career in New York before they shipped him off to Miami in December of 2014.   As a member of the Miami Marlines this season he has a record of 2-4 with an earn run average of 3.68. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31124/david-phelps

Lineup

The Yankees act as if Gleyber Torres might not have come up this year anyway. But if he had continued to improve -- as he was before he needed surgery on his non-throwing elbow -- he would have been in pinstripes this season. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Torres would likely have skipped around the diamond, playing third, second and a little short. He would have given the team a boost of energy and, more importantly, another good player. Now, that's wait-'til-next-year stuff. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

If the Yankees were to add someone in a trade, a first baseman, like the Braves’Matt Adams, might make some sense. He's having a nice year and might only cost one top prospect. This, of course, is going on the assumption Greg Bird won't be able to return this year. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

On the flip side, it might be worth seeing if there's a market for Chase Headley. He wouldn't garner much in return, and the Yankees might have to eat some of his salary, but think about this: How much worse or better would the Yankees be ifRonald Torreyes played every day at third? "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

Plus, if Torres comes back strong, he could be able to man third by this time -- or earlier -- next year. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

The rest of the lineup is pretty much set. The Yankees could look into dealingBrett Gardner, though they much prefer to get rid of Jacoby Ellsbury, who, after this season, still has another three years on his seven-year, $153 million deal. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

In other words, they'll only be able to trade Ellsbury if the other team is unloading an equally bad contract or if they eat a ton of money. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees

That's where the Yankees stand right now. Let's see how the road trip goes. "according to http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96670/buyers-sellers-both-this-next-road-trip-could-define-2017-yankees