The trade deadline is approaching and the New York Yankees are in need of another piece, but Mike Moustakas is clearly the wrong move to make.
While it goes without saying, the New York Yankees are having an incredible 2018. Entering July 8, they are 57-29 yet still two games behind the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East.
Winning the division will not be an easy task for the Bombers and it is agreed upon by both fans and reporters that a trade will be necessary to put them in a better position for October.
After entering the season with a rocky starting pitching rotation, injuries to Jordan Montgomery and Masahiro Tanaka and the implosion of Sonny Gray, pitching seems like the clear need.
However, according to a recent report from George A. King III, the Yankees have expressed interest in a non-pitcher. They have reportedly been eyeing Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas to play first base.
The big question here isn’t if this would be a good move. This move, like any, could be solid if the Yankees don’t have to overpay. But that will probably have to be the case. The real question, though, is if this would be the right move.
The short answer for that is no.
A trade for Moustakas is going to cost any team a pretty good price. After letting the third baseman test the free agent market and then reacquiring him for a $6.5 million, the Royals will definitely want to get all they can before the slugger eventually moves on.
The Yankees don’t need to get involved with a second-half offensive rental this season and that’s just what Moustakas will be. Prospects that would be used on him should be saved for a pitcher, which is something the Yankees desperately need.
While it’s no secret Greg Bird hasn’t found a good rhythm since coming off the disabled list, the Yankees offense has continued to click. More losses this season can easily be attributed to flawed starting pitching than Bird’s offensive struggles.
Not to mention, if the Yankees were this concerned with Bird and finding someone to help bear the load at first, there are several in-house options, most notably the recently recalled Brandon Drury.
A probable high price tag and internal ways to cover first makes the move for Moustakas seem like a head-scratcher at this time.
The Yankees need pitching, plain and simple.
With Aaron Judge having a solid first half thus far, Giancarlo Stanton turning things around and rookie sensations Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar taking the league by storm, the Yankees lineup can go toe to toe with the best of them.
But it’s that starting rotation that needs the work. After Luis Severino and CC Sabathia, who can be truly relied on in a big-time playoff series? Tanaka seems to be hit or miss, Gray can’t get out of his own way and Montgomery’s injury has left a spot in the rotation to be filled by minor league call-ups that lack any consistency.
If it comes down to it and the Yankees have to send some prospects packing, it can’t be for Moustakas. There is just a much bigger hole to fill on this roster.
