Starting Pitcher WAR: 5.0 (14th)
Designated Hitter WAR: 0.5 (21st)
As soon as the word "Yankees" escaped Olney's mouth, yours truly nodded his head and said, "Yeah, that tracks."
The Yankees began this season as arguably the favorites to represent the American League in the World Series for the first time since 2009. Cut to now, and they're 49-42 and stinking up the place so bad offensively that they fired their hitting coach.
New hitting coach Sean Casey might be able to fix things, but the Yankees lineup would need another impact bat even if Judge wasn't sidelined until at least August with a toe injury. And if Ohtani were to suddenly call Yankee Stadium home, well, we're talking major impact.
The Yankees have been better on the mound, but Gerrit Cole still needs a co-ace. Because after he struck out just two batters in his long-awaited Yankees debut, Carlos Rodón might be better suited to be a No. 3 in a playoff rotation.
Proposed Trade: Yankees get DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani, Angels get SS Anthony Volpe, OF Jasson Domínguez, OF Spencer Jones
The Yankees simply don't have a strong farm system, so it's hard to imagine them getting the Angels' attention without offering up the increasingly warm Volpe. Parting with him would not be easy, but either Isiah Kiner-Falefa or former top prospect Oswald Peraza would be viable solutions at shortstop at least for the near-term.
For their parts, Domínguez is the only top 100 prospect the Yankees have, and the 6'6", 225-pound Jones invited Judge comps after he was drafted last year.
