Yankees Acquire Outfielder Slater Amid Judge Injury, Trade Deadline Moves

The New York Yankees have made key moves ahead of the MLB trade deadline to address depth concerns following star Aaron Judge's injury. They acquired outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor-league pitcher Gage Ziehl; Slater adds a right-handed bat who has performed well against left-handed pitching, providing useful lineup balance. Additionally, the Yankees traded for utility player Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals, who offers versatility and strong performance against lefties. Despite these acquisitions, the Yankees remain four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and face pressure to further improve their roster. The team’s management opted against promoting top prospect Spencer Jones due to his back spasms and instead focused on filling outfield depth with players like Slater. With Judge expected to be on the injured list for at least 10 days and likely as a designated hitter upon return, the Yankees' front office is navigating a challenging trade deadline scenario to maintain their postseason ambitions.