The New York Yankees are amid a strong start to the 2024 season. New York's record ranks them first in the AL East. Yet, rumors suggest the Yankees could push for further improvement with a trade for Houston Astros veterans Alex Bregman and Ryan Pressly ahead of the July deadline.
Yankees beat writer Joel Sherman revealed key insight on why New York should push for the two contributors.
“Yankees fans should be hoping that the Astros keep losing. And not just because they hate that franchise more than all others. But because when it comes to the trade deadline, Alex Bregman and Ryan Pressly are ideal fits for the Yankees — and a lot of other clubs, too. Both are free agents after this season. Both have picked it up after poor starts,” Sherman said, via the New York Post.
Houston has not had the start they hoped for, but they are slowly working their way up the AL West standings. The Astros possess a 36-40 record, good for second in the division. If they somehow go on another cold streak before the MLB trade deadline, they could look to mix things up by trading veterans like Bregman and Pressly.
As Sherman mentioned, Alex Bregman and Ryan Pressly have a wealth of experience that could be beneficial to a Yankees team looking to make a championship run. Bregman won the World Series with Houston in 2017 and 2022, and Pressly was present for the 2022 title as well.
Through 72 games, Bregman has hit nine home runs, accumulated 34 RBI on a .250 batting average, and held a .716 OPS. Meanwhile, Pressly has shown his defensive abilities with 37 strikeouts, two saves, a 4.66 ERA, and 1.52 WHIP.
Would the Yankees' roster gel with the Astros veterans?
New York has a great thing going with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge's stellar production. Soto boasts top-eight MLB rankings in batting average, home runs, RBI, and OPS, while Judge ranks first in the league in the latter three categories. The two stars are spearheading the Yankees' offensive attack, but New York wants to increase the support around them and on the defensive side.
Thus, New York might have to part ways with players who have gained continuity with the team. Giving up some of these pieces may not be a big issue, especially when considering the experience Bregman and Pressly would bring. Yet, the change could cause a slight throw in the team's rhythm. This would not be ideal as they approach the latter half of the season.
Still, while New York may have had a strong start, they must find a way to push themselves further over the top. The club is less than one year removed from their middling 82-80 record, which caused them to miss the 2023 postseason. They want to make sure they will be competitive when the 2024 playoffs roll around.
The Yankees must continue to play hard through June to maintain their strong standing. It will be interesting to see if they make any moves by the time the MLB trade deadline arrives.
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