Targets for the Yankees/Mets at the deadline

It's only six weeks until Major League Baseball's trading deadline and already, we've heard the Yankees and Mets connected to the big names in pitching with the likes of Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt. While pitching is always key to having a winning team, I don't believe the Yankees need to acquire either Lee or Oswalt. The Yankees have had a fantastic rotation all season, led by Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte. Now, with the emergence of Javier Vazquez breaking out of his two month funk, the rotation has become even better, as Vazquez is 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA in his last eight starts. CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett are pitching fine as well. All together, the Yankees' rotation has been solid. So, why would the Yankees want to acquire one of Oswalt or Lee when their rotation is already full and is pitching so well? In order for the Yankees to acquire one of the pitchers, someone from the current rotation would have to be traded. While I don't think it's all impossible for the Yankees to trade for Lee or Oswalt, I don't think it's likely, especially when Lee is a free agent at the end of the season. The Mets however, could use either of Lee or Oswalt to bolster their rotation.

What the Yankees really need right now is a bat. In their last 3 games, the Yankees have scored just four runs in their last three games, including yesterday's shut out by the Mets. The Yankees have had their share of offensive woes this year and it's clear they need another bat, especially with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira struggling for the first three months of this season. It doesn't look like A-Rod or Tex will go back to their 2009 forms this season as they both look lost at the plate, with Teixeira hitting a career low .224 with 10 home runs and Rodriguez with only 8 home runs while battling constant injuries this season. At this point last season, Teixeira had 20 home runs. It's obvious that the Yankees need to acquire a bat, they can't have Kevin Russo and Ramiro Pena playing everyday because, no offense to them, but they aren't going to come up with the big hits to help the Yankees win. The Mets, on the other hand, need pitching help if they want to make it to the postseason.

So while it isn't time to wave the white flag, it is time to consider trading for some offensive and pitching help. I've compiled a list together of a few targets that the Yankees and Mets could be after this season to help wake up the offense. Each day, I'll post a new target who the Yankees or Mets could trade for the spark the offense. Keep on the look out!

(We won't be doing spots on Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt, seeing as we have done them already in the last week.)

Here are the lists of trade targets, as well as the date that capsules will be written on them:

Yankees: Adam Dunn - 6/19
Yankees: David DeJesus - 6/20
Mets: Jake Westbrook - 6/21
Yankees: Lance Berkman - 6/22
Mets: Fausto Carmona - 6/23
Yankees: Josh Willingham - 6/24
Mets: Kevin Millwood - 6/25
Yankees: Brandon League - 6/26
Mets: Jeremy Guthrie - 6/27
Mets: Kelly Johnson - 6/28
Yankees & Mets: Ty Wigginton - 6/29