The New York Yankees have made some great moves, but what’s still needed?

With Injuries still being an issue and the New York Yankees searching for that final piece to put them over the edge who could they trade for next?

The New York Yankees have just come off an imposing homestand, finishing with a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. The addition of Edwin Encarnación now looks like a pure genius on the part of Brian Cashman with Giancarlo Stanton out until the end of the summer with a new Knee Injury.

The return of Aaron Judge will continue to be the additional power surge that the Yankees knew he would be. The defensive and offensive consistency of DJ LeMahieu and Sir Didi Gregorius are precisely what the Yankees needed to start linking wins together.

However, something seems to be missing from this team is complete; at first glance, they delivered the power that everyone has been expecting. What could put them over the top and prepare them for the postseason in October?

Line-up optimization

This first part falls on Aaron Boone and has to do with him maximizing the players potential when the Yankees were fighting against steady injuries of their stars. The coaches and managers had a young group of baby bombers playing inspired baseball, moving players over with singles and bloopers. Stealing bases and mixing up their styles at the plate against dominant pitchers.

Boone needs to put that same plan together, to better incorporate the power the Yankees currently have flowing throughout their lineup. Home runs are exhilarating but they still only count for one run when nobody else is on base.

Boone also needs to implore Cashman to find him another starter; the Yankees need to protect their bullpen the best they can without burning them out before we get into the later months of the year.

Protecting the Bullpen…

With Boone asking Brian Cashman to get him a starter, Cashman will take a long look at the trade market and will have to pull the trigger on who he believes can be a great Yankee piece.

He should take into account that the team has been without Luis Severino for months now and there are zero guarantees that he will return to form in short order with that said the first options the Yankees will be looking at are Madison Bumgarner, Trevor Bauer, and Marcus Stroman.

All three pitchers are younger than 30 and have upside still, Bumgarner as looked a little burnt out as of late but he can get back on track an maybe a fresh start would help him.

Stroman standing a strong 5’8 has shown the Yankees what he can do when he’s on his A game. Best of all the Yankees should have a fantastic scouting report on him since they see him so often with their in-division rivals.

Bauer is the name that has picked up the most traction as of late, most reports stating that he looks to be trending in the right direction now that he is healthy and the Indians are looking to move on from him to capitalize on the best possible trade.

With all three pitchers, the likely hood is that the Yankees may have to trade Clint Frazier to get any of these deals done. The most Yankees fans would hate to see red thunder be packed up and shipped out after an above average start to the season in the Big Leagues.

Anyone of these pitchers gives the Yankees a pitcher that they can let consistently get into the 6th or 7th inning. Stroman may be the most familiar with pitching in Yankee Stadium, but Bauer may overall have the most success.

Final Take

Stanton is hurt again, and yes he did make way back to the team. Unfortunately, it’s looking like Greg Bird syndrome is spreading to other players throughout the Yankee organization. There is still some work to be done going into All-star break, but one more solid move could place the Yankees over the top for the postseason run.