The New York Yankees could look like a very different team following this year's trade deadline.
Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine isn't sold on the 30-21 Yankees, who have won 12 of their last 16 games. Valentine doesn't believe they are World Series contenders and also doesn't believe that superstar Aaron Judge will be able to carry them. For that, the ex-skipper thinks general manager Brian Cashman is going to shake things up at the deadline.
“I think the Yankees are still searching. They’re not the team they want to be,” Valentine told Mike Francesa on the WFAN legend’s BetRivers podcast.
“I just see them kind of struggling to the finish line. I don’t see them being the dominant force. … I believe that Brian is looking at the trade deadline. I think he might try to reshape the team the way Atlanta did a few years ago.”
In 2021, the Braves made several key moves at the trade deadline, which took them from a floundering club to World Series champions. That being said, the NL East was weak that season, as the Phillies were 82-80 and the Mets collapsed to finish under .500.
It's hard to envision the Yankees making drastic moves at the deadline without having to part with top prospects such as Jason Dominguez. At the major league level, Gleyber Torres and Luis Severino have trade value, but It's hard to believe that the Yankees would ship them out of town and improve their big-league roster.
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