Yankees urged by ex-MLB GM to add specific type of slugger by MLB trade deadline

The New York Yankees are one of the best teams in the American League and are expected to be World Series contenders this season. But, they could still use some help at the MLB trade deadline.

There's going to be a focus on bullpen upgrades, a new catcher, or maybe even a new shortstop or third baseman to replace Ryan McMahon and/or Anthony Volpe.

But, in looking for said upgrades, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic is urging the Yankees to find a right-handed power hitter, regardless of position, by the August 3 trade deadline.

Yankees urged to trade for righty power hitter by ex-MLB GM

"I'd like to see them get one more right-handed power bat, as well," Bowden writes. Of the potential areas to upgrade with a righty power bat, the catcher position is the most obvious.

Austin Wells, a left-handed hitter, hasn't been that great this season, posting a .166 batting average with four homers and seven RBIs in 47 games played with a .533 OPS.

If the Yankees could add a right-handed power-hitting catcher to complement Wells, it would be about as close to an ideal trade deadline move as possible for the Yankees.

Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins is such an obvious trade target for the Yankees, as he's a catcher who perfectly fits the righty power-hitting need the Yankees have.

Agustin Ramirez of the Miami Marlins and Keibert Ruiz of the Washington Nationals wouldn't be terrible trade targets either. Adley Rutschman and Hunter Goodman aren't realistic, though they might be the best option, both short and long-term.

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Looking elsewhere, CJ Abrams of the Nationals would be the best shortstop trade target, while Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants might be the best third base trade target that fits the right-handed power-hitter description.

With left-handed sluggers Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. leading the offense, with only Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt as impact righty sluggers, adding a power-hitting righty to this lineup would be ideal.

Brian Cashman and the Yankees have plenty of time to gauge the market and figure out how best to address their needs.

While it might just be Bowden's opinion, being able to add a right-handed power hitter at catcher, shortstop, or third base would be ideal.

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