What should be on Yankees wish list as trade deadline approaches

The 27-year-old is still under his rookie contract and ineligible for arbitration until 2026. He has a .809 OPS with 21 home runs and 44 RBIs.  

The White Sox also have righthander Reynaldo Lopez in the final year of his contract. In 39 innings, he has 48 strikeouts, 21 walks and a .221 batting average against. He is only 29 and an under-the-radar reliever who could bolster the Yankees bullpen. 

Lastly, there's Andrew Benintendi. The Yankees have been desperate all season for a good player to man  left field, where they have platooned Franchy Cordero, Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun,  Billy McKinney and Aaron Hicks. None of them are hitting  above .240. Benintendi, a former Yankee, is hitting .290. He hit .254 for New York in 131 at-bats last season. 

A trade for the trio should be inexpensive and would add average, power, potential and mid-inning relief. 

How to get them: An offer of any of the platooned left fielders mentioned, in addition to RHP Luis Severino, SS Trey Sweeney and RHP Matt Sauer, should motivate the White Sox. 

Nationals 3B Jeimer Candelario

In late June, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported the Nationals are making Candelario available in a trade.

After he was non-tendered by Detroit, Candelario signed a $5 million deal with Washington. The switch-hitting infielder is a terrific bargain, posting a .263/.340/.826 line, 45 RBIs and 14 home runs with solid defensive metrics. 

How to get him: Sending prospects 3B Tyler Hardman and RHP Carson Coleman, along with veteran infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, should be adequate. 

Cubs OF/1B Cody Bellinger

Bellinger is the son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger. Cody was 5 when he watched his dad and the Yankees win the World Series in 2000. That stuck with him and could factor into his free agency at the end of next year.

Bellinger, 28,  has one more mutual option left on his contract, so trading for him this year makes sense. The 2019 MVP is slashing .305/.360/.884 with 12 HRs.

How to get him: Two top 50 prospects and 3B DJ LeMahieu could entice the Cubs. 

Angels pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani

Now we have the Golden Goose, Ohtani. The Angels have lost Mike Trout for most of the season, and a nagging finger issue the past week has limited Ohtani. It's time for the Angels to accept Ohtani's eventual departure and stock their farm system while they can. 

How to get him: It would take 2B Gleyber Torres, RHP Clarke Schmidt and at least two of the Yankees top-15 prospects and OF Elijah Dunham, another prospect, to get Ohtani.

If GM Brian Cashman gets this deal done, he will be considered one of the greatest GMs in baseball history and maybe find himself among the plaques in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.