Red Sox trade targets likely overlap with Yankees’

I compiled a list of players the Red Sox could potentially target for this year’s trade deadline for Boston.com — I’m working there this summer, don’t hate. The thing is, the Yankees are usually competing with the Red Sox to nab the top players available at the deadline, which is why I’m sharing this list.

I put asterisks next to the players who I thought would particularly make sense for the Yankees to pursue.

FanHouse: Yankees interested in Wigginton

Adam Dunn wasn’t the only potential trade target to be linked to the Yankees today. Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton, the team’s most productive player this year, is on the market and the Yankees reportedly ‘have some interest.’

Unfortunately for the Orioles, it seems Wigginton has put his best months of the year behind him. He followed up a great April and May with an awful June. Through 48 games, he had 13 homers and 32 RBIs with a .288/.369/.565 hitting line. In June, he’s hit one homer, drove in 10 runs and batted to the screeching tune of .209/.303/.291.

Still, he has great versatility and would be dramatic improvement over any of the other current bench options for the Yankees. He’s also priced at just $3.5 million in the final year of his contract.

Guest post: Trade deadline ideas for Yankees — the Long way

By Susan Long 

The trade deadline feels so far away at the end of July - but it will be the All Star break soon and then the trade deadline will be upon us. The Yankees look like a solid team, 36-22 and two games behind Tampa. But the recent series against the Mets (1-2) and Toronto (1-2) exposed some key weaknesses.

There are two moves that the Yankees should make prior to the trade deadline in order to make a solid team even stronger. One, an offensive outfielder. Granderson has shown some pop since returning from the disabled list including the grand slam against the lowly Orioles, and Swisher is consistent but between Gardner, Thames and Russo, there is no power threat off the bench or in late innings. The second, a DH. Right now, Jorge is the DH since he cannot catch. However, he cannot hit either and between he and Cervelli who is in a slump, that’s two holes in the line up.

With those weaknesses in mind, there are two potential moves for the Yankees. One is significantly easier than the other: Ty Wigginton. I hear you already. They don’t need a 2B/1B man, they have Cano and Tex. True. Very true. But Wigginton has the power and consistency to DH. He could bring some much needed pop and oomph to the line up and spell either Tex or Cano without losing anything in the line up. He would also be a late inning power threat off of the bench.

The second is more of a challenge but very much a rent a slugger in the fashion of Cecil Fielder, Ruben Sierra, David Justice, et al. I think if the Dodgers are out of it, the Yankees need to trade for Manny Ramirez. Yes, Manny. That Manny. Yankee and American League pitcher-killing Manny. He can play the outfield or DH and he would be a threat. He wouldn’t want to play in New York? Yes he would, with the hope of a ring. Manny would wear pinstripes. And I don’t necessarily think that would be a bad thing. The Yankees need him - and he needs the Yankees.

As for who they’d trade for either of these? That’s a little harder. I think there’s some value in Juan Miranda, or even Brett Gardner if they’re serious about going after Carl Crawford in free agency. The Yankees brass is good at making lemonade out of spoiled lemons: A-Rod for Alfonso Soriano. Nick Swisher for Wilson Betemit? Cashman will make a solid move at the deadline and this team will be stronger for it.

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About the Author: Susan Long is a dedicated Yankees Fan who would love to give up her day job at Sell Property Quickly and keep those Yankees in line full time!

Orioles-Yankees series preview

The Orioles hold the worst record in the majors at 15-36, while the Yankees have the best home record in the American League at 16-7 (31-20 overall).

The two AL East teams will start June with a three-game set at Yankee Stadium tonight, and then will meet again next week at Camden Yards.

Head-to-head: The Yankees swept the Orioles in the beginning of May at home, and took two of three from Baltimore on the road the week before. Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher have posted big numbers against the O’s this year, and Garrett Atkins has had great success against the Yankees. Javier Vazquez, tonight’s starter, is the only starter who hasn’t faced the Orioles this year.

Pitching Matchups:

Date:	Orioles starters	Yankees starters
Tues., 7:05 p.m.	Brian Matusz (2-5, 5.76)	J. Vazquez (3-5, 6.86)
Wed., 7:05 p.m.	Brad Bergesen (3-3, 5.96)	Phil Hughes (6-1, 2.70)
Thurs., 1:05 p.m.	Kevin Millwood (0-5, 3.89)	CC Sabathia (4-3, 4.16)

Players to Watch:
Orioles: Ty Wigginton. He’s been the most productive player for the O’s by far this year with 13 homers and 32 RBIs. The Yankees have kept him relatively quiet so far this year, and will need to continue that trend if they want to collect more victories.

Yankees: Cano. He’s riding a 14-game hitting streak and has six straight multi-hit games. Six! He has 12 RBIs in his last five. He is the hottest player in baseball right now. Watch him.

Prediction:
It’s hard to predict a sweep with Vazquez on the mound tonight and a struggling CC Sabathia on Thursday, but it’s a new month. I don’t like the looks of Kevin Millwood’s record this year. The Yankees don’t usually like facing 0-5 pitchers. I’ll say two out of three if they’re lucky. The bullpen is still a major cause for concern.

Yankees-Orioles series preview

This should be a cakewalk, right? The Orioles are the worst team in baseball (3-16) and the Yankees (12-6) shouldn’t be too fazed after losing their first series of the year against the Angels over the weekend.

Expect a good portion of the people in the crowds at Camden Yards to be rooting for the Yankees because the Orioles are averaging 20,941 fans per game so far (very ugly).

Before the season, I thought the Orioles would come out to a hot start. That prediction was a total flop. To give myself some credit, injuries have played a factor in that too.

Pitching Matchups:

Date:	Yankees starters	Orioles starters
Tues., 7:05 p.m.	Phil Hughes (2-0, 2.19)	Kevin Millwood (0-3, 3.38)
Wed., 7:05 p.m.	CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.00)	Jeremy Guthrie (0-2, 3.46)
Thurs., 7:05 p.m.	A.J. Burnett (2-0, 3.20)	Brian Matusz (2-0, 4.38)

Players to Watch:
Yankees: Alex Rodriguez. The Orioles are another team A-Rod kills. Although he wasn’t so great against the Halos, you have to expect him to have a big series against one of the worst pitching staffs in the league.

Orioles: Ty Wigginton. The Orioles have been playing without Brian Roberts for most of the year, but that hasn’t hurt them too much because of Wiggington. He’s hitting .327/.410/.712 in 52 at-bats and has more homers than any Yankee (6).

Prediction:
The Yankees should sweep. The Orioles are coming off a win on Sunday over Boston (to avoid the sweep), but that’s not saying a lot as the Red Sox are off to a very slow start.