Yankees takeaways from the first half: Trade deadline help, Anthony Volpe’s struggles

Giancarlo Stanton, a quiet leader for the New York Yankees, offered a general assessment when asked how the team could improve after a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs, stating they needed to be "crisper in all aspects" and work better without delving into specifics. Despite his reserved comments, the team's recent struggles were evident, with their record falling to 53-43, placing them 2.5 games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays – a significant drop from their seven-game lead in late May.

The article highlights three key areas the Yankees must address. Firstly, the starting rotation urgently needs reinforcement, as General Manager Brian Cashman plans to acquire a pitcher before the trade deadline. Injuries to Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt, combined with the heavy workloads and injury histories of Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, create vulnerability. The team cannot rely on depth options like Will Warren or Marcus Stroman for critical postseason games and needs a high-caliber starter to slot behind Fried and Rodón.

Secondly, the bullpen requires significant upgrades. Manager Aaron Boone was forced to use Ian Hamilton in a tied game against the Cubs, resulting in an immediate home run, highlighting the unit's unreliability. The Yankees need to acquire two relievers at the deadline – one for late innings and one for middle innings – to bridge the gap to key arms like Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. Even with potential returns from injured players like Fernando Cruz and Jonathan Loáisiga, the current bullpen lacks the strength of recent years.

Thirdly, the team needs an offensive upgrade at shortstop. Oswald Peraza's performance has been poor, with a .456 OPS and a .149 batting average, including a dismal .111 average since DJ LeMahieu was released. His defensive skills are insufficient to justify him remaining an everyday player beyond the trade deadline.