Yankees' Brian Cashman Details MLB Trade Deadline Approach in Video amid Struggles

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is aiming to be busy ahead of the MLB trade deadline but tried to temper expectations in terms of what might happen.

On Wednesday, the longtime executive cited the pitching staff, both in the rotation and bullpen, and the infield as areas of concern. He cautioned, however, that "I'm not sure if this will be a deep deadline or not":

Even the best teams can see their performance vary wildly across a 162-game season. A few bad weeks can be followed by a hot stretch that puts a squad back on course.

In the case of the Yankees, it's getting more and more difficult to wave away the issues that have arisen over the last month.

They had a six-game losing streak in June that included a scoreless run spanning 30 innings. Another six-game losing skid followed into July. At 50-41, they've fallen to three games back of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East.

Cashman didn't specify where in the infield he might be shopping, but third base is a place to start. Oswaldo Cabrera is batting .243 and slugging just .308, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is no longer an option at the hot corner since DJ LeMahieu's exit means he's the everyday second baseman.

With the pitching staff, Clarke Schmidt may need Tommy John surgery, and he'd be the second New York starter to have the procedure after Gerrit Cole went under the knife before Opening Day. The Bronx Bombers can't afford not to improve its depth in the rotation.

Of course, Cashman wasn't wrong when he spoke about the uncertainty over who will be available between now and July 31. He also has to weigh whether targeting the top players on the board is actually worth it with the team playing like this.

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch listed the Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon, Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez, Pittsburgh Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes and Isiah Kiner-Falefa and St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arendo as candidates who would help the Yanks at third. Would any of the five actually move the needle that much?

As with any fanbase, denizens of the Bronx will want to see their favorite team bring in some serious reinforcements. They should start prepping for the likelihood that New York's overall deadline haul falls short of expectations.