The New York Yankees need to add an impact bat ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline as outfielder Aaron Judge remains on the injured list. That need became even more pressing on Sunday.
The Yankees announced that outfielder Cody Bellinger had been placed on the IL due to a strained left hamstring. Prospect Spencer Jones was recalled from Triple-A to take his spot on the roster.
While there is no indication as to how severe Bellinger’s hamstring strain is, losing him for an extended period of time would drastically hurt the Yankees’ lineup. He had posted a .259/.350/.420 batting line in his 434 plate appearances, hitting 17 homers and 21 doubles.
Impact bat becoming more of a priority for New York Yankees
The Yankees already had several areas of need before Bellinger’s injury. Catcher and third base had been black holes in the lineup and clear focal points to improve as the trade deadline approached.
That need has become more of a priority. First basemen Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt and utility man Max Schuemann are the only players on the roster with an OPS+ over 100. Jones has the raw power to be the impact bat the Yankees need, but he has also struck out 35 times in 86 plate appearances in his previous stints in the majors.
The Yankees trade deadline plans could depend on how long Bellinger is sidelined. Judge does not have a set timeline to return to the lineup, although the Yankees expect him back before the end of the season. If Bellinger misses several weeks as well, the Yankees may need to add an outfielder to their shopping list.