MLB Trade Deadline Preview: Lane Thomas Is the Perfect Cure to the Yankees Left Field Woes

This season, the left field position has been a major hole in the Yankees lineup both offensively and defensively. Nine different players have taken the field as the team’s left fielder. However, none of them have been able to have consistent success or stay healthy. With the trade deadline coming up this month, New York must get a player who can lock down the position. The player I believe would be the perfect acquisition is Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas.

A Revolving Door in Left Field

Aaron Hicks, Billy McKinney, Jake Bauers, Oswaldo Cabrera, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Giancarlo Stanton, Willie Calhoun, Greg Allen, and Franchy Cordero have all played left field this season. However, all these players haven’t been to be consistent either offensively or defensively. Hicks is no longer with the club after being designated for assignment in May and is now with the Baltimore Orioles. Bauers, Allen, and Calhoun are currently on the injured list. While Kiner-Falefa has been the most consistent offensively, he has shown lapses defensively at times. Cordero got off to a hot start then went into a forever slump and McKinney can only give you so much. Stanton has only played the position once due to his own injuries and Judge being out since June. With the Yankees struggling offensively, they can’t have a revolving door at the position that is supposed to provide instant offense.

Lane Thomas Is the Best Player on a Bad Team

Lane Thomas has been the best player on an otherwise dreadful Washington Nationals team. Thomas leads the Nationals in most major offensive categories and seems to be a one-man wrecking crew in that lineup. He is on pace to have career highs in many offensive categories. He is currently hitting .304 with 14 home runs, 48 RBI, an OPS of .851, and a slugging percentage of .501. With Washington at the beginning of a rebuild and Thomas has two years of club control left, he is now expendable. The good news for the Yankees is that Thomas is entering the prime of his career and now would be the perfect time to acquire him. He would be able to add more “pop” to New York’s offense.

The Yankees Disappointing Offense

Since Aaron Judge went on the injured list in early June, the Yankees’ offense has been a disappointment. As a team, they currently have an OPS of .710 and are only averaging 4.4 runs per game. However, the biggest issue they have offensively is getting on base. As a team, New York has an on-base percentage of .300, and only the Tigers, Athletics, White Sox, and Royals have lower percentages.

It also should be noted that Yankee left fielders have combined to have an OBP of .285. Thomas currently has an OBP of .349 and this is something that the Yankees should welcome into their lineup. Thomas also currently has a WAR of 2.8 in 2023. Meanwhile, everyone who has appeared in left-field for the Bronx Bombers has combined for a WAR of 0.1.

What Would It Take To Get Thomas

With two years of team control left on Lane Thomas, the Nationals will be looking to bolster their farm system more. Six out of the ten prospects in the Nationals system are outfielders so they’ll be looking for pitchers and infielders. The Yankees have some prospects to give that would be able to satisfy making a deal for Thomas. I project that Clarke Schmidt, Trey Sweeney (number five prospect), Will Warren (number seven prospect), and Richard Fitts (number eight prospect) would get it done. New York would also be able to acquire a reliever to help with the loss of Jimmy Cordero.

Lane Thomas Could Be a Long Term Solution as Well

Lane Thomas is the perfect solution to the Yankees’ left-field woes. He is entering the prime of his career and would help stop the revolving door in left field. He is also the consistent offensive threat that this team needs right now. Having two years of control left, he could also perhaps be the long-term solution for the Yankees at the position as well. New York badly needs help at the left-field position and Lane Thomas is the perfect player to fill that need.

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