NEW YORK — The Yankees are coming off a disappointing stretch, having gone 1–6 on a seven-game road trip to Toronto and Queens. They now limp into a critical week at Yankee Stadium, where they are set to face two of the better teams in baseball—the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago Cubs—before heading into the All-Star Break in Atlanta.

This recent skid has clarified the Yankees’ trade deadline needs: pitching (both starting and relief) and infield help, particularly at third base. While the organization prefers to acquire a right-handed third baseman, any major league-caliber infielder capable of playing elite-level defense would significantly benefit the club.

With the loss of Clarke Schmidt till at least September of 2026, the Yankees need a starting pitcher — who can eat innings — at the deadline.

I don’t think the prices will be right for a starter at the top of the rotation that Brian Cashman and his crew would consider a top-line starter.

Royals RHP Seth Lugo would be a good option for the Yankees. A familiar foe is posing a 2.65 ERA in 16 starts this year. Lugo is on a really team-friendly deal and has experience pitching in New York, after pitching seven seasons for the crosstown Mets.

Among the other options are Pirates pitchers Mitch Keller and Andrew Heaney. Mitch Keller will likely be too expensive for the Yankees, but would be a great option if the Yankees want to go all in. Andrew Heaney does not excite me as he was a Yankee in the past and did not perform too well while he was in the Bronx.

If the Diamondbacks become sellers, the Yankees should take a look at Zac Gallen. The impending free agent has struggled so far in 2025, but is the classic candidate for a change of scenery. Gallen has postseason experience and was a major part of the Diamondbacks 2023 world series run, and would be a good addition to the Yankees rotation.

The Yankees need a third basemen, and desperately. The Yankees have been playing Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third base since DJ LeMahieu returned from the IL — who is washed — and it has now taken a physical toll on Chisholm Jr, keeping him out of the lineup on Sunday.

One option for the Yankees is Rockies third baseman, Ryan McMahon. The Yankees and Rockies have reportedly begun having conversations surrounding McMahon. It has been known for a long time that the Yankees have had interest in the 2024 All Star, but the price was never in the Yankees ballpark, but after some offensive regression, the price might be right.

Another option for a potential change of scenery is Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Hayes has been a fantastic defensive third basemen, but has struggled offensively in his career. Hayes certainly has some potential, and maybe being placed on a team that is expected to be world series contenders will spark something.

I will mention another name that hinges on if the Diamondbacks sell, and that is Eugenio Suarez. The right-handed slugger would be a great fit for the Yankees and he would be a welcome addition to the offense. One issue with Suarez could be that he is not a good defender — at all — at third base, which could cause some of the same defensive blowups that hinder the Yankees now.

The Yankees bullpen has been running on fumes and frankly ineffective. The bargain bin relievers will not work for the Yankees in 2025. They desperately need at least two relievers that can pitch effectively with a lead getting the final nine outs of the game.

One of the best options is Nationals closer, Kyle Finnegan. With the Nationals clearly selling after cleaning house this past week, they are clearly sellers. Finnegan, a hard-throwing closer (96 mph average fastball) who has recorded 11+ saves in five straight seasons and excels with a late-inning repertoire. Despite a rough June by Nationals standards (1–11 stretch), Finnegan remains a reliable short-term bullpen anchor. He’s on an expiring contract, making him cost-effective, though rebuilding Washington could demand more to part with him

Another option is Twins closer Johan Duran. With mid‑100s velo and a nasty splitter, Duran is one of baseball’s elite relievers. ESPN assigns him a ~40 %, as he is under team control for two more seasons. The team control portion is something Brian Cashman looks for in deals, giving him both elite upside and cost certainty. The Yankees could pair Duran’s high-leverage stuff with their late‑inning needs.

A final option I will leave with is Pirates reliever David Bender. “The Renegade” has bounced back with a ~2.93 ERA and a career-best ~35 % strikeout rate, trending toward sub‑2 ERA post‑April.