Our "Buy or sell" feature at MLB Rumors continues. Up next, the teams of the AL East.
New York Yankees: Buyers.
Why: The Yankees are once again the class of the AL East, sitting atop the division with a 5.5 game lead over Baltimore, thanks to an incredible run in June that saw them win 20 of 27 games. While key players have been lost to injury, the Yankees are poised to make another postseason run.
Who they need: Injuries to CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte have left New York's starting rotation -- now four men deep -- vulnerable, but you wouldn't know by looking at the standings. As ESPN's Buster Olney points out, the Yankees are patiently assessing who and what they need. But the Yankees being the Yankees, they'll invariably be rumored to be in on the most prominent names on the market: Matt Garza, Zack Greinke, and Cole Hamels.
If Brett Gardner's elbow injury keeps him out for the season, the Yankees will likely be in the market for an outfielder. While Joba Chamberlain is scheduled to throw a simulated game at the Yankees' minor league complex in Florida, there's no guarantee he's back this season, meaning the Yankees could be looking for an arm in their bullpen, too.
When it comes to the lineup, keep in mind that Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez aren't having Teixeira-like and Rodriguez-like seasons, and Russell Martin's .178/.297/.347 line becomes more worrisome by the day.
Who they can deal: Brian Cashman isn't about to gut the farm system he's worked so hard to build and preserve and is ranked 13th in baseball by Baseball America in March 2012. Three Yankees prospects were ranked in Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 Prospects List: Mason Williams (OF) at 28, Gary Sanchez (C) at 30, and Tyler Austin (OF) at 39. All three are playing in Class A, and are years away from making an impact at the Major League level, and teams will likely command more, in terms of prospects, from New York. Former highly touted pitching prospect Dellin Betances is struggling in Triple-A, and is unlikely to bring back much of a return. Left-handed pitcher Manny Banuelos is faring a bit better in Triple-A, but his stock has fallen, too.
On the big club, Nick Swisher's contract is up at the end of the season, but with Gardner's return this season questionable, it's unlikely Swisher is moved. David Phelps, who has impressed on the mound, could be one of the Yankees' more intriguing assets in terms of a trade.
Who is available: Carlos Quentin could be the outfielder the Yankees' covted. After trading for Chad Qualls, the Yankees may not be in on any of the big-name relievers on the market, but you can never count them out. Hamels, Garza or Greinke would be a massive upgrade to the rotation, but the Yankees have luxury tax concerns, and they need to sign Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson to contract extensions.
Verdict: Contrary to what many expected, injuries haven't derailed the Yankees' season, and New York, with one of the best run differentials in the American League, looks to be a force to be reckoned with come October. The team will get stronger as injured players, especially Sabathia, return, but if Cashman, who's shown he's willing to not make the big deal at the deadline, can add to his roster in the coming weeks, the Yankees can go from strong to formidable.
