The New York Yankees may still be in first place, but all is not well in the Bronx right now.
Not only are the Yankees currently riding a four-game losing streak, but they've scored exactly four runs in their last 39 innings. The offense with the best OPS on the season clearly needs a boost behind the otherworldly contributions of Aaron Judge.
The most obvious position the Yankees could look to upgrade is second base, which became DJ LeMahieu's spot when New York shifted Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to third.
LeMahieu, who is in year five of a six-year, $90 million extension, hasn't been the same hitter he was when he made three All-Star teams in quite some time. And the Jul. 31 trade deadline could spell the end of his time as a starter.
On Tuesday, Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer not only predicted that the Yankees would buy at the trade deadline, but that they would specifically look to upgrade at second over LeMahieu.
"Well, obviously the Yankees are going to buy. They're on a mission after returning to the World Series in 2024 only to go title-less for a 15th straight season. And as good as they are, they could still be better," Rymer wrote.
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"They've had a wonky infield all season, and no position is riper for an upgrade than second base. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. now back at third, the keystone has been left undefended against what it left of DJ LeMahieu."
LeMahieu, 36, has been better at the plate this year than last, sporting a .699 OPS and 0.7 bWAR in 27 games. He's even got three defensive runs saved at second base.
It's hard to deny, though, that he lacks the ability to drive the baseball the way he could in his prime. And if the Yankees indeed decided his lineup spot was the easiest to upgrade, it wouldn't be hard to envision him on the bench for much of the second half.
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