Breaking-News: “Yankees Eyeing BLOCKBUSTER Trade For $212 Million Superstar with Braves Before Trade Deadline — Star Slugger Could Fix Their Third Base Crisis”

The New York Yankees’ current third base situation might not be enough to meet their championship aspirations. Originally planning to split the position between DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera, the Yankees now face uncertainty after LeMahieu suffered a spring training injury and Cabrera’s 2024 performance has been underwhelming.

This instability could push the Yankees to explore a major trade — potentially targeting Atlanta Braves star Austin Riley. According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Riley is the kind of impact player New York might pursue if they decide to go “all in” at the trade deadline.

Kuty notes that top prospect George Lombard Jr. has become the Yankees’ clear No. 1 and would be off-limits in almost any deal. However, if the Yankees aim for a significant acquisition — like Sandy Alcantara — they might be forced to include him. That said, Kuty suggests another potential route: if the Braves continue to struggle, the Yankees could attempt to pry away a big-name player like Riley.

Atlanta has started the season with a disappointing 4–10 record, and if their struggles persist, they might be willing to part with a high-salary veteran in exchange for prospect depth. Riley, who inked a 10-year, $212 million extension in 2023, is a two-time All-Star who mashed 30+ home runs each season from 2021 to 2023. Although he took a step back last year — hitting just 19 homers with his lowest OPS since 2020 — he would still represent a major upgrade over LeMahieu or Cabrera.

Even if the Braves decide to move on from Riley, their lineup remains stacked with talent like Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II. Trading Riley for a strong package of prospects could help Atlanta reset financially and gear up for long-term success.