Yankees trade deadline targets: 7 players New York could pursue, from Merrill Kelly to Ryan Helsley

Yahoo

4 days ago

The Yankees have already been aggressive leading up to the trade deadline, acquiring 3B Ryan McMahon from the Rockies and utility infielder Amed Rosario from the Nationals. Is more help on the way?
New York faces increasingly long odds to win the AL East as the Blue Jays surge, but with Aaron Judge avoiding a serious injury to his elbow and planning to return at some point in the early days of August, the franchise is still holding out hope for a late-season run.
With McMahon and Rosario in the fold, pitching could be the Yankees' target in the final days and hours before the deadline. Unless Judge's prognosis is worse than the franchise is letting on, don't expect another aggressive move for a position player. The Yankees won't bench Giancarlo Stanton with the way he has been hitting, so they are likely to live with Stanton temporarily playing the field while Judge serves as a designated hitter until he's fully recovered.
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McMahon and Rosario, meanwhile, helped address the Yankees' infield needs ahead of the season's final two months.
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Who could join them in the Bronx? Here are seven prime trade targets for the Yankees leading up to the July 31 deadline.
Yankees trade deadline targets
Merrill Kelly, SP, Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are open for business, and Kelly is as reliable as any veteran starter on the market. The 36-year-old has a 3.22 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 22 starts this season, in line with the numbers from his past two full seasons in 2022 and 2023, and he posted a 2.25 ERA across four starts during Arizona's run to the World Series in 2023. The Yankees need a reliable arm behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon with Clarke Schmidt out for the remainder of the season, and a 1-2-3 of Fried, Rodon, and Kelly would be formidable, to say the least.
Mitch Keller, SP, Pirates
If the Yankees want a controllable starter, Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller could be available for a steeper price. A durable arm who hasn't missed meaningful time over the past five seasons, Keller has a history of strong starts and slow finishes to the season, but he has held up well this year with a 3.53 ERA and 3.42 FIP across 21 starts. Keller doesn't miss many bats, but he has impressive control and is under contract through 2028.
Ryan Helsley, CL, Cardinals
Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley said he expects to be traded, and one would have to think that's the most likely scenario with St. Louis teetering in the NL wild-card race. The Cardinals' closer has a 2.03 ERA and 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings over the past four seasons, notching 103 saves. The Yankees' bullpen plans have faltered this season, with Devin Williams flashing far too much inconsistency and Luke Weaver struggling after returning from injury. Regardless of who gets the ninth inning, Helsley would help settle down the back end of the 'pen.
David Bednar, CL, Pirates
A two-time All-Star, Bednar struggled mightily in 2024 and got off to a similarly concerning start this season before being optioned to the minors. As it turns out, that stint in the minor leagues fixed him. Bednar has not allowed a run since mid-May, dropping his ERA into the low 2s and giving the Pirates a legitimate weapon at the back end of their bullpen once again. Bednar is under contract through 2026, so he would come at a cost in any deal.
MORE:14 players who could be traded before July 31 deadline
Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins
A former Cy Young Award winner, Alcantara has suffered through a fairly brutal season after missing all of 2024 with Tommy John Surgery. Between his track record and a recent encouraging seven-inning outing against the Padres, however, it wouldn't be surprising to see Alcantara moved — and the Marlins are certainly listening. If the Yankees are confident they can fix Alcantara, they would have a fairly cheap rotation option for their 2026 rotation.
Griffin Jax, RP, Twins
The Twins are far from guaranteed to trade Griffin Jax or Jhoan Duran, but a strong offer could get one moved. Jax should come a bit cheaper, though his underlying numbers paint a different picture than his 4.00 ERA. The right-hander has a terrific 2.07 FIP, nearly in line with last season when he enjoyed some better luck and posted a 2.03 ERA. With a career-high 14 strikeouts per nine innings, Jax could be a sneaky addition to the back end of the Yankees' bullpen without any pressure to have him close out games.
Willi Castro, IF/OF, Twins
Do the Yankees have room for another infielder after adding McMahon and Rosario? According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, the door is at least open for another bat to join the fray, and he adds that Twins Swiss Army knife Willi Castro is someone the Yankees have long admired.
Sherman suggests the Yankees could try to package Castro with a Twins reliever in a deal. While they might have to figure out how the pieces all fit in that scenario, Castro's versatility and solid bat by utility man standards could make him a valuable piece for New York given the team's serious defensive issues in the infield.