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Could wheeler-dealer Yankees replace Anthony Volpe at shortstop?
The New York Yankees, who recently traded for infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario, are in the market for another infielder, the New York Post's Joel Sherman reported Monday. Per Sherman, the ideal player is “a right-handed hitter with the ability to play shortstop if necessary.” If true, this might have implications for current New York shortstop Anthony Volpe. The Yankees’ former top prospect has struggled at the plate and in the field this season, hitting .215/.285/.403 with 14 home runs and -3 outs above average and totaling 13 errors. Adding another infielder would almost certainly mean the Yankees have other plans for Volpe. Sherman reported Yankees GM Brian Cashman placed calls to the Tampa Bay Rays about utilitymen Ha-Seong Kim (.226 BA in 31 at-bats this season), José Caballero (.227 BA) and Taylor Walls (.218 BA). The most intriguing of those names is Kim, who started the season on the IL and recently landed there again. But Kim can be a difference-maker. His batting average has declined from its peak of .260 in 2023 (though still better than Volpe’s), but his on-base percentage is solid (.326 for his career). His defense also is top notch — he won a Gold Glove in 2023 at second base with the San Diego Padres and three Golden Gloves in the KBO, the South Korea pro league. The two other utilitymen Sherman mentioned are replacement-level players. Of the three, Kim comes with the least club control — he holds a player option for next season and will be an unconditional free agent after 2026. At .500 entering play Monday, the Rays (53-53) could be sellers or buyers at the Thursday trade deadline (6 p.m. Eastern). Tampa Bay is fourth in the AL East, but it is just three games out of a wild-card spot. If the Rays aren't sellers, the Yankees could also explore deals for utilitymen Willi Castro of the Minnesota Twins or Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kiner-Falefa played for the Yankees in 2022 and 2023.
Maple Leafs Top Prospect Shatters Expectations at World Junior Showcase
The World Junior Summer Showcase is in full swing, and Maple Leafs top prospect Ben Danford is shattering expectations, truly proving how good of a player he can be. The Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive prospect, Ben Danford, is among the 44 players who were invited to Hockey Canada's World Juniors Summer Showcase. Hockey Canada finally unveiled the 44 prospects who will head to Minnesota for the showcase, after they held the roster release back while the organization dealt with several injuries, which begins Sunday and runs through August 2 in Minneapolis. Defensive prospect Ben Danford is the only Maple Leafs player invited to the annual showcase, where Canada's World Junior staff will get their first look at what their team might look like for the 2026 World Juniors, which will also take place in Minnesota in December. Danford is being called the best player at the World Juniors Summer Showcase Danford has been exceeding expectations, and one source revealed that he has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase so far. The source said Danford is steady, smart, and hard to ignore on the ice. 'Ben Danford has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase he's steady, smart, and impossible to ignore. Makes every shift count, whether he's breaking up plays or starting the rush. Canada's blue line is in good hands.' - An unnamed source The Maple Leafs selected Danford with their first pick (31st overall) at the 2024 NHL Draft. During his visit to Toronto's development camp earlier this month, the defender revealed that he's receiving mentorship from current Leafs defensemen as well as some alumni like Mark Giordano. The 6-foot-2 Danford could make for an excellent fit for Canada should he make the team. He is responsible in his own end, and he demonstrated leadership capabilities when he was named captain of the Oshawa Generals ahead of the 2024-25 OHL season.
LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
Yankees’ Aaron Boone Provides Giancarlo Stanton Update After Aaron Judge Injury
The New York Yankees are one of the best teams in the AL, but the absence of Aaron Judge changes the equation. The 33-year-old is on the 10-day IL with a flexor strain in his right elbow, which puts the Yankees in a bind. Losing Judge for any extended period doesn't just mean losing a star; it means losing the best hitter of this generation. The AL MVP favorite leads baseball with a .342 batting average and a 1.160 OPS, and he's third in both homers (37) and RBI (85). On top of that, Judge's injury affects fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Judge plays right field while Stanton designated hits, but the latter player could be forced to play outfield for the first time since 2023 if Judge is too injured to throw upon return. In that case, Judge would be the designated hitter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained the team's plans for Stanton before Monday's bout with the Tampa Bay Rays, via SNY. "Yeah, sure," he said about the Yankees considering playing Stanton in the outfield. "But even right now, [envisioning] bringing Judgie back initially, you still got Jasson [Dominguez], Grish [Trent Grisham], and Belli [Cody Bellinger], so I don't view it a lot." "But obviously want to keep G playing as much as we can, and [have] his bat in there," he continued. "Want to get a feel of what it [him playing in the outfield] ooks like, how he's responding. I want to hear his thoughts on it. Does he feel like it's a real option? And then to have that in your pocket, sure, it's a nice something to have where it gives you more bench flexibility on a given day." Stanton is slashing .276/.355/.520 with seven homers and 20 RBI over 29 games this season. The 35-year-old tallied 27 homers and 72 RBI over 114 regular-season games last year before notching seven homers and 16 RBI over 14 playoff contests. New York is 5.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East and one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the first Wild Card spot.
Maple Leafs Rumoured to Be Targeting Star Centre From Conference Rival
The Maple Leafs are in need of a major upgrade in their top-six, and now Jay Rosehill has noted Rangers' Vincent Trocheck as a trade candidate for Brad Treliving. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been busy this off-season, adding some intriguing forwards in Matias Macceli and Dakota Joshua while retaining John Tavares as they look to go one or two steps further in the post-season moving forward. However, despite all of this movement, the belief is still that this team is ready to take a big swing in the coming months on the trade market, with several big name candidates out there that could improve their top-six. Now, former Maple Leaf Jay Rosehill has weighed in, suggesting a very intriguing name that General Manager Brad Treliving could target ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. 'Another guy is Vincent Trocheck. He's 32 years old, so he's got the experience. I just think that you put him in this lineup, he would fit. It's like there's kind of a big missing piece in this forward group, kind of in that middle-six type of deal. And to fill it with a high-end guy like Trocheck, it would just be like, the balance would just be humming.' Over the past three years in New York, Trocheck has tallied 64, 77 and 59 points, and given the two-way game that he plays and the leadership that he brings, the 32-year old would be a massive upgrade in Toronto's top-six, whether he remains at the centre position or moves to the wing. Ultimately, the Maple Leafs have the issue of lacking assets to make a big move, so a player like Trocheck could potentially be in their range, and while they've still got plenty of talent, it's clear that this team needs an upgrade to be a true contender, with Trocheck a fantastic option if he truly is available.
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