Report: Yankees Interested In Trade For A's Slugger Matt Olson

 

The New York Yankees spent the first half of the 2021 season trying to find a permanent solution at first base. Luke Voit was out due to injury, so they cycled other players through. Then came the trade deadline deal to add Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs, and the situation seemed solved. 

Defensively, he's still one of the best in the business, and he provided a steadying influence for the Yankees. But offensively, Rizzo's numbers were anything but spectacular. He had a .768 OPS with New York, and batted .249. That's 20 points below his career batting average, and nearly 100 points off his career OPS mark. 

On top of that, his wonky lower back needed constant maintenance. 

Although there is still some interest within the organization to bring him back, now comes a report that the Yankees have also discussed interest in trading for one of the best power bats in baseball to man first base. 

The Yankees have talked internally about a potential Matt Olson trade, according to source. (Also, duh.) But Anthony Rizzo has a lot of support in the org too and the lower-back tightness he dealt w/ in Chicago may have followed him to the Bronx on and off in 2nd half.

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) November 9, 2021

Yankees reporter Brendan Kuty says the team has "talked internally about a potential Matt Olson trade." It was just today that word spread of the Oakland A's making several star players—including the All-Star Olson—available via trade this offseason. A rebuild is in the offing for the Athletics. 

The Oakland Athletics have Matt Olson on the trading block — When do they become a non-profit organization?

— Gary Sheffield Jr (@GarysheffieldJr) November 9, 2021

As we discussed last week, the left-handed hitting Olson would make a mockery of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. There'd certainly be no downgrade in defense from Rizzo, as Olson has a couple of Gold Gloves of his own. 

At 27 years old, Olson had the best year of his career, slugging 39 HR with 111 RBIs and a .911 OPS, while playing half his games in the cavernous Oakland ballpark. He's also nearly 5 years younger than Rizzo.

It'll cost a prime prospect haul, but teaming Olson up with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton would make for one devastating lineup. 

Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports