Listed here are the urgent questions going through the Yankees because the unofficial begin of the second half of the season is ready to start Friday:
What number of of their weaknesses can they tackle on the commerce deadline?
Brian Cashman outlined the Yankees’ prolonged checklist final week: a starter, bullpen assist and an infielder.
That’s so much to ask for at one deadline, particularly when there are much more patrons than sellers and the stock just isn’t precisely overflowing.
Even when, say, the Diamondbacks commerce Eugenio Suárez, the Yankees will face loads of competitors for the third baseman.
And nearly each staff is on the lookout for a starter and/or reliever, too.
High prospect George Lombard Jr. figures to be untouchable, however everybody else could possibly be in play relying on what sort of returns the Yankees can pull down by July 31.
What model of Luis Gil returns from the IL?
It’s been a protracted highway again for the reigning AL Rookie of the 12 months, and he nonetheless has a number of extra packing containers to examine earlier than he will get to a big-league mound — no less than three or 4 extra rehab begins as he builds up his pitch depend.
However assuming Gil does get again in early August, it’s in all probability not reasonable to count on him to instantly be the pitcher he was final season.
How shut he will get to that by the top of the season may dictate simply how far the Yankees go.
The final month-plus heading into the All-Star break was a brutal one for the Yankees shortstop, who fell right into a prolonged droop (12-for-96 with a .420 OPS in his previous 27 video games) whereas having quite a lot of defensive miscues.
The 24-year-old has been a streaky hitter all through his three seasons within the massive leagues, however his protection falling right into a droop concurrently his bat has raised trigger for concern.
Maybe the break can function a reset of kinds as a result of the Yankees want a extra constant Volpe on either side of the ball within the second half.
