While the New York Yankees have failed to play good baseball for much of the season, they have hovered around the .500 mark in 2016. That record has allowed them to stay within hailing distance of the second wild-card spot in the American League.
However, they may be on the verge of dropping out of a realistic position to earn that postseason spot, and if they do, Fox Sports insider Ken Rosenthal reported they will be willing to part with some of their key talent before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
The biggest trading chip they have is fireballing reliever Aroldis Chapman, who is a free agent at the end of the season. Chapman is the kind of closer who can help a playoff team become dominant when he has the ball in the ninth inning.
Once the Yankees make the determination that they are going to move Chapman, look for general manager Brian Cashman to work the phones in an effort to drive up the bidding for a pitcher who is capable of throwing 104 mph or higher and striking out the side in a key situation.
All-Star Carlos Beltran is another Yankee who is likely to be moved, according to Rosenthal. Beltran is having a productive season, hitting .297 with 19 home runs, 58 RBI and a .542 slugging percentage, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
Beltran has also been an exceptional postseason hitter throughout his long career. He has a lifetime .332 batting average along with 16 home runs and 40 RBI. That playoff success could allow Cashman to get a better return for the 39-year-old outfielder.
This is an unusual position, because the Yankees have always been interested in adding to their team as they prepare for the playoffs. But the team has not been able to sustain momentum this year, and that's why Cashman may ultimately have to sell off assets like Chapman, Beltran and perhaps a few others.
The Yankees and the Kansas City Royals have already talked about a trade involving Beltran, according to George A. King III of the New York Post. Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar was one of the names mentioned in that proposed trade.
Carlos Gonzalez often sees his name in trade-rumor stories, but it seems far more likely that the Colorado Rockies will hold on to him at this point.
According to Rosenthal, the Rockies have received calls and offers (37-second mark) for Gonzalez, but general manager Jeff Bridich has not followed through on any of those offers. Rosenthal said Colorado will hold on to Gonzalez rather than trade him at this point because they have a better chance to contend by 2017 with him than without him.
Gonzalez is under contract through 2017, and so is Bridich. It may simply be a matter of self-interest for the Colorado general manager.
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