The New York Yankees started the season strong but have struggled recently. They went into the All-Star break just two games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East and one game ahead of the surging Red Sox. Because of this, general manager Brian Cashman is expected to be aggressive at the trade deadline.
One glaring weakness is at third base. DJ LeMahieu was recently placed on waivers. Jazz Chisholm Jr. briefly filled in but asked to move back to second base. Right now, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas are splitting time at third, but neither has produced much at the plate. The Yankees clearly need a competent hitter for that spot before the July 31 deadline.
While big names like Eugenio Suárez and Ryan McMahon get most of the attention, another possible target is gaining traction: Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Reports suggest there’s about a 60% chance Hayes will be dealt before the deadline. The Pirates are not in contention, and Hayes hasn’t produced offensively. He’s under contract through 2032 for $8 million a year, which is reasonable for a 28-year-old with his defensive talent — but his bat has been disappointing.
This season, Hayes is hitting just .238 with a .576 OPS, two home runs, and 31 RBIs in 328 at-bats. He still provides excellent defense — ranking among the best third basemen with 13 outs above average — but his offensive production remains a concern.
Defensively, he’d be an upgrade for the Yankees. Their defense has struggled, especially in the outfield and on the left side of the infield. Hayes could help stabilize things at third. But with the back half of the Yankees lineup already lacking power, adding Hayes would do little to fix their offensive problems.
In short, trading for Hayes could make sense for the Yankees on defense, but they should be cautious. They’d be better off prioritizing players who can add more power to the lineup instead of settling for an underperforming bat, even if the price is low.
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