We’re still a month and a half from the July 31 trade deadline, but the arms race has already begun in the American League. The Yankees, one of the AL’s premier teams, pulled off a stunning move Saturday in acquiring prolific slugger Edwin Encarnacion from the Mariners for young pitching prospect Juan Then. Including the 21 home runs he has already racked up this season, no major leaguer has hit more HRs than Encarnacion’s 284 dating back to his 2012 breakout with the Blue Jays.
It’s clear the Yankees are trying to construct a super lineup, and it’s likely that’s what they’ll have when injured star outfielders Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton return from their long absences in the coming weeks. A full-strength Yankees lineup will include Encarnacion at designated hitter, Judge in right field, Stanton in left, Aaron Hicks in center, Gary Sanchez at catcher, Luke Voit at first, Gleyber Torres at second, Didi Gregorius at short and DJ LeMahieu at third. If you’re an opposing pitcher set to face that lineup, you may hope for a torrential downpour.
On the other hand, the Yankees’ starting staff looks far from foolproof, as noted earlier this week. Injured ace Luis Severino should be in position to finally make his season debut after the All-Star break. Even if that happens, the Yankees will need slumping second and third starters James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka to right themselves. The club also has to find answers behind those two, as Domingo German (now injured), CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ haven’t been able to provide any of late. Don’t be surprised if general manager Brian Cashman, after acquiring Encarnacion, makes another significant trade for starting pitching as a result.
The Yankees’ bullpen, meanwhile, doesn’t need a lot of help. Their relief corps hasn’t matched some of the “best ever” talk that was out there entering the season, but it remains a strength. And the group will become all the more formidable if Dellin Betances, yet another injured standout, returns sometime in the summer. Betances, Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman forming Voltron at the end of games would certainly make life easier on the Yankees’ rotation, regardless of whether the team adds a starter from outside.
At 42-27, the Yankees don’t carry the AL’s best record – not by a long shot. Both Minnesota and Houston are five games ahead of the Yankees, and the Astros have a few of their own cornerstones mending from injuries in Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa.
Let’s also not discount two of the Yankees’ division rivals, Tampa Bay and reigning World Series champion Boston. The Rays are just a half-game behind the Yankees and, for what it’s worth, own a far better run differential (plus-96 to plus-65). Furthermore, they could get back an important in-season reinforcement in budding ace Tyler Glasnow, out since May with a forearm strain, as early as next month.
The Red Sox don’t look as if they’ll approach last year’s 108-win outburst, and they have 5 1/2 games to make up on the Yankees. However, the sleeping giant in Boston may finally be waking up, having won four in a row. The Sox also own a plus-47 run differential that’s not quite befitting of their 38-34 record, and they’re another team with an injured starter (Nathan Eovaldi) who may return soon to complete its rotation.
Considering the presences of the Twins, Astros, Rays and Red Sox – not to mention a few other playoff contenders – the Yankees have their work cut out for them if they’re going to earn their first pennant since 2009. Plus, any or all of those teams could bolster themselves by the deadline. The Yankees, though, have managed one of the game’s top records thus far without many (or any) contributions from Encarnacion, Judge, Stanton – three players about to grace their lineup on a daily basis – and may see Severino and Betances return. With that in mind, is New York the favorite in the AL?
(Poll link for app users)
I think they were the favorites on Opening Day and the case is only stronger now. I would be SHOCKED if they didn’t get to the World Series, and this is coming from an A’s fan.
I voted Yes but I’ll condition it on the Yankees acquiring a top starting pitcher (like Bauer or Stroman). And knowing the Yankees they probably get it done and thus they are the favorites.
Stroman is not a “top starting pitcher”
A 3.18 ERA over 15 starts right now say youre very, very wrong. Again.
Nice fact there, don’t listen to haters that will go against the Yankees on every front. People who are objective get it.
Stroman is s mid rotation Sonny Gray clone that Toronto would want a ransom for. Hard pass!
Imagine saying “Sonny Gray clone” like its a bad thing. Gray has a 3.03 FIP and 3.65 ERA right now, genius. Stop talking please, lol
They’re acquiring Luis Severino near the all star break how many teams have that luxury
Haha no way Yankees aren’t even the favourite for the east that title goes to Blue Jays come on now guy
It’s close but i think the Astros. I’d say the Yankees lineup is better, but the Astros pitching makes them a tiny bit better.
Agree Yankees fan here.
No , the astros are still the heavy favorite coming out of the american league. I still have the rays upsetting everyone by winning the al east.
Well being an Angels fan totally warps and discounts your prediction!
Nice call out. Angels aren’t that good too bad for the best player in baseball.
I guess the Rays are still the underdogs
And the Rays wouldn’t have it any other way.
Like they have a choice. They are garbage time superstars.
Couldn’t agree more, the Rays thrive on that
Twins have had the best record in baseball all season and still aren’t getting a sliver of recognition. And yes, there is validity to the fact that they live in an easy division, but according to all sources, up until the last week or so the Yankees have actually had the easiest schedule in the league – and now that they’re starting to play tougher teams, they’re 4-6 in their last 10. I see them as the third best team in the American league
I see the Yanks making the Playoffs and Hopefully knocked out early so that we can all LAUGH!
Only if they get to play with the Orioles every game.
Still like Houston because of pitching as many others have said. A position I’m sure I’ll be reevaluating a bit after the trade deadline, as I think it’s incredibly likely the Yankees make a move for some starting pitching. None the less, Houston for now.
Not with that starting staff.
It would be sad if they lose it all with all these hitters.
The Yankees remind me of someone who just got there tax refund check and go into Costco and end up buying things that they really didn’t need. Encarnacion? Really? Yep….hitting has been a problem?…Check the mound. That’s where the problem is.
Man I can’t wait for the replies to this.
Geejohnny is correct. Yankees need pitching. They won’t win without it.
I think if you asked every front running team, they all would not turn down additional pitching help….adding another potent bat for the price the Yankees obtained EE for is a slam dunk…again, do you guys that comment ever watch games or do you just live in a virtual world of commenting?
Well you could either add pitching or keep outslugging the poor pitching you have. If you give up 8 runs but can get 9 or more then the pitching wasn’t so important after all. Plus the acquisition cost of EE was far less than a quality starter and they could use several.
He’s right about pitching but picking up another bat for nothing is not an issue. It’s neutral per se….Only if it precludes getting a legit top flight starter is it a problem
Encarnacion really doesn’t make the Yankees much better. Sure they will beat some teams by 10 runs instead of 5 now but they will still lose close games against quality pitching because they not the only team that can compete in a slugfest now and their rotation is soft.
You can only have 9 hitters in the lineup. When Judge and Stanton return either Voit or Encarnacion will be a bench bat. Maybe they’ll move Voit at the deadline but he’s producing at a low cost.
Seems pretty clear to me that Stanton would play LF and Hicks/Gardner in CF with Judge in RF. Giving EE ample abs in the DH slot. Maybe he doesn’t get 6 starts per week but I can easily see 4-5. But with the way in which they’ve suffered injuries this year it’s not unreasonable to think Cashman doesn’t believe all these guys will remain healthy. This move also blocked the Rays from adding EE which could’ve also been a consideration.
OMG. Be objective instead of hating…
They got an excellent hitter for next to nothing and in fact the Rays ( as savvy as they are ) are paying more of his salary than the Yanks ha plus the trade deadline isnt for another 6 weeks … I dont see the rush for a first place team IMO
They are the favorites at the moment under the assumption all those injured players return to full strength…certainly if they pick up another SP that would seal the deal.
They aren’t the favorite even if they come back full strength.
Just what the sport with declining viewership & attendance needed, yet another Red Sox/ Yankees championship…..
*Completely bored of that outcome*
Good pitching beats good hitting, continuing to add a .247 hitter for the Rays to strikeout 4 times in a game
And everyone knows that batting average is the most complete stat
And pop a dinger in that 5th AB…
Before the season, I said the Yankees would destroy its competition all the way through the WS. Since then, not just the crazy injuries effect the team, but the pen has not been the lights out version I expected. Still, with what try did with backups, it’s an awesome team. For now, it’s Astros then close behind Yankees. After the trade deadline, it may be different.
Edwin can mash and I have no problems with this trade (assuming the extra $$$ doesn’t impact a acquiring stud pitching- not lance Lynn pitching but stud pitching).
Honestly though without even looking, I am going to speculate that most of his dingers have come against non playoff teams and/or inferior pitching.
My guess- he will fit right in with Yankee sluggers and help get the team to October, but be easily mollified in October against the better pitchers/teams.
Conclusion- helps but not nearly enough to positively state he makes the Yankees the favorites.
They will be favourites to won the East but with that starting staff they will not be favourites to go deep.
No, the Astros are the best team in the AL.
I’m just grateful that Luhnow is my GM, rather than the writers and commenters here, all of whom are still fighting the last war.
Not until they get a stud October pitcher. Who’s available that plays his best in October????
I voted “no” because there was no “co-favorite” option. To my perception, too close to call between the Yankees and Astros, at this point.
Author must be an east coast/New England hack. The Astros at this point are clearly AL favorites right along with the Twins. He’s typically trying to rationalize Yankee “greatness. From a team that 11-11 vs team >.500. TB is the only team in the east with a winning record vs .500 teams! Most of the b-ball writers miss the scariest thing about the Astros. They are doing it without 3 all-stars. And 3 other starters. The depth and talent of the farm system is maintaining the excellence. This may be the most significant story to date in MLB. They have actually increased the winning percentage during these injuries. Yankees favorites?? Only in the kinds of Yankee fan.
“This may be the most significant story to date in MLB. ”
Astros braintrust, Luhnow et al.
1) WHAT exactly are they doing?
2) HOW are they doing it?
3) Is it replicable?
4) For how many years is this sustainable?
THAT is the most significant story in MLB.
They overachieved with everyone being hurt. which is a good thing. But now they are coming down to earth.
Why no.
Because most of their Sp cannot get past the 5th inning an issue the Yankees refuse to fix for the past umpteen years. It’s SP that wins games in the PS. A wicked 1-2 punch and if you have a wicked 1-2-3 punch consider yourself the favorites. They don’t even have a 1 punch so no they are not the favorties
Also when you keep running a 36 year old our in LF that cannot ht himself outta a paper page for the past 10 years and a post season average of .202 your not going any place.
Brett Garbage and half the SP needs to go. Until then same ol same ol nothing new here.
Fact!
Day after the NY Post labels the Yankees “Old and tired looking” they go and grab another tired old dude.
And that same writer applauded this move! Davidoff is…..
I think it’s fair to ask, who would you rather add to your roster mid season and who makes the bigger impact, Yordan Alvarez or Edwin Encarnacion? Obviously you would prefer Alvarez over the course of the next 6 years, but for the next 80+ games, who would you take?
The EE trade is fine. Nice pick up at a low cost. I think the Yankees could be the favorites it just depends how far they’re willing to go in prospects to add pitching.