Aaron Boone focused on the players Yankees have as trade deadline nears: ‘We have guys that we know are capable of more’

BALTIMORE — With the Aug. 1 trade deadline just days away, Aaron Boone is trying to keep his focus on the players he has to work with.

“We need to handle our room,” the Yankees manager said before Saturday’s game against the Orioles. “We have guys that we know are capable of more, and that’s our focus, like just trying to get the most out of everyone in that room. And we all feel like there’s more all of us can do to get that out. So that’s about solely where my focus is.”

While Boone has repeatedly said that the last-place Yankees have the guys to get it done, the team entered Saturday’s game 3.5 games out of the American League’s third and final wild-card spot. The Yankees’ next two opponents, the Rays and Astros, hold the first two wild card slots, while the Blue Jays are in possession of the third. The Red Sox are 1.5 games out, while the Angles are only half a game behind the Yankees. The Mariners are one game behind New York.

Prior to the weekend, the Yankees felt they were in a position to be buyers, but the team was taking things day-by-day entering their big series against the first-place Orioles. The Yankees lost Friday’s game 1-0 despite Aaron Judge’s return from a toe injury and Gerrit Cole’s dominance on the mound.

Should the Yankees make any additions, the offense figures to be a priority. The lineup struggled mightily without Judge, and it didn’t exactly look good with him on Friday.

Left field, which has been a revolving door for the Yankees and plagued by poor defense, is one position the club could upgrade. But when asked about left specifically, Boone said he “can’t worry about what’s not here” and speculation, which runs rampant this time of year.

“I mean, technically everything can be upgraded,” Boone said. “The reality is Jake Bauers and [Billy McKinney], [Isiah Kiner-Falefa] have all been productive when they’ve been in there.

“I don’t even know if that’s a reality or who that person may be. Our job is to get everyone ready to do their job the best they can right now. That’s our focus. And as I’ve said all along, I feel like we have more than capable people in that room.”

While Boone is focused on his clubhouse, he did say that general manager Brian Cashman gave him an “overview of the war room” on Saturday.

“But until something’s imminent — like this might be a reality — we got this to worry about,” Boone continued. “We got the Orioles and trying to get a victory.”

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Source: Berkshire mont