Names to watch for Yankees, Mets as MLB trade deadline looms

It's one of the most exciting and anxiety ridden points of the Major League Baseball season...the hours, minutes and seconds to the MLB Non-Waiver Trade Deadline.

The Yankees and Mets are among the teams with many needs as they try and patch holes on the roster that could prevent a playoff birth or possible World Series crown.

Here are some names that could be on the move as well as those that would fit the Yankees and Mets for the stretch run. More could be coming as well including some surprise moves.

Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

While Gleyber Torres, who hit 3 homer runs all of 2020 and 3 in the first half of 2021 for the Yankees, has found a power stroke in the first week of the 2nd half his production numbers are still way down for where they should be at this point. His defense, while improved at SS in 2021, is still average at best.

Trevor Story is an elite defender, can mostly hit for power and a pretty good batting average but nothing north of .300.

This season, Story is hitting .242 with 12 HR and 46 RBI, according to BaseballReference.com, and for his career is hitting .273 with 146 HR and 421 RBI while playing home games at Coors Field.

This move could bolster a Yankees offense that has been wildly inconsistent in 2021 by putting Story at SS and moving Gleyber Torres back to 2B, if they don't move him at the deadline. Perhaps a move to 2B would spark Torres' offense.

It would take a haul for the Yankees to net Story, even though he is in a contract year.

Mets?

No, they have Francisco Lindor who typically has better numbers in the 2nd half of a season. That mixed with the fact he was just traded to the Mets and signed a massive contract that'll keep him in Queens for another 13-seasons.

Yankees? 

Possibly. Buster Olney with ESPN reported last week the Yankees have checked in with the Rockies for a possible deal.

Joey Gallo, OF/1B, Texas Rangers

Throughout his career, Gallo has been a feast or famine hitter at times though, lots of homers and lots of strikeouts.

In fact, according to BaseballReference.com, Gallo is hitting .211 for his 7-year career with 144 HR and 314 RBI. This season, Gallo is hitting .222 with 24 HR and 52 RBI.

He did go on a coincidental tear though after MLB cracked down on 'sticky stuff'. CBS Sports broke down the numbers and they show Gallo is a .200 hitter against a high-spin rate on a pitch and .285 against a low-spin rate.

Mets?

Possibly, but I doubt it. They could use the offensive boost though with the team going through offensive struggles of their own, especially, it seems, when Jacob deGrom pitches.

They are hitting .236 as a team in 2021 with 107 HR and 363 RBI, per BaseballReference.com.

Pete Alonso is the only Met with more than 12 HR and he has 22.

Yankees?

Possibly. It makes all kinds of sense for a lineup very right handed. And picture a swing from Gallo at Yankee Stadium with the short-porch in right.

They need pop. Yankees haven't gotten it at 1B, LF or CF all year and that's a big problem.

Joel Sherman with the NY Post recently discussed the Yankees interest in Gallo.

Kris Bryant, 1B/3B/LF, Chicago Cubs

Once upon a time, he was the prized jewel for the Cubs as they rebuilt a team all the way to a 2016 World Series title breaking a 108-year drought.

Now, the Cubs are reeling and are clear sellers. Anthony Rizzo would be a good fit at 1B for many teams, but his teammate Kris Bryant could be on the move even sooner.

He has a decent but not great batting average in 2021 hitting .266 with 17 HR and 50 RBI, according to BaseballReference.com, and for his career is hitting .279 with 159 HR and 464 RBI.

Bryant provides postseason experience and solid defense.

Mets?

Seems likely. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported that the Mets are among those interested in Bryan, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Yankees?

Doubt it. They like Gio Urshela at 3B, who plays Gold Glove caliber defense and up until this year with the Yankees has hit pretty well. With the Yankees seeming less likely to spend a lot of money and rumors of other possible deals, they won't be able to give up the farm on every deal. I don't think they make a move for Bryant.

Starling Marte, OF, Miami Marlins

Could it be a Marte Parte(y) in New York?

The former Pittsburgh Pirate, now Miami Marlin could be a fit for the Yankees as they are still in talks with the team their former shortstop (Derek Jeter) now owns, according to NJ.com who learned the information from a couple of sources who also said the Yankees have discussed left-handed outfielder Max Kepler with the Minnesota Twins.

NJ.com also reports that the Yankees are more focused on pitching, per the same sources, which they do need as well.

Marte is obviously a right handed hitter and makes sense from proving the Yankees with an athletic player who hits for average while Gallo, a left-handed hitter that also makes sense for NYY, is a low average hitter who strikes out a bunch.

In 2021, Marte is hitting .303 with 7 HR and 24 RBI, according to BaseballReference.com, and for his career is hitting .288 with 121 HR and 471 RBI.

He could be a player that makes sense for the Mets as well.

Farm Systems:

For the Yankees, who had the 18th best farm system in MLB heading into 2021 per MLB.com, only OF Jasson Dominguez (ranked 24th on MLB prospect list and is in Low-A), P Clarke Schmidt (ranked 69th on MLB Prospect list and is currently on the IL), P Deivi Garcia (ranked 78th on MLB Prospect List and is in AAA) and SS Oswald Peraza  (ranked 96th on MLB Prospect List and is in AA) are in the Top-100 Prospects in MLB.

For the Mets, who had the 19th best farm system in MLB heading into 2021 per MLB.com, only C Francisco Alvarez (ranked 34th on MLB prospect list and is in High-A), SS Ronny Mauricio (ranked 50th on MLB Prospect list and is in High-A), P Matt Allan (ranked 58th on MLB Prospect list and is in High-A) and 3B Brett Baty (ranked 73rd on MLB Prospect list and is in AA) are in the Top-100 Prospects in MLB.

There are other good to great prospects in both systems, but the fact that they are middle of the pack at best and trending towards not having a great system, the Yankees and Mets may have to give up a bunch to make deals by the deadline and could be reluctant to make multiple deals depending on the asking price.