Remember how the Bronx Bombers started this season? Through May, the Yankees led the AL in nearly every major offensive category, steamrolling their way to the top of the standings. But in June, the Yankees’ bats turned cold, and their offense went downhill. Over their last five games, the Yanks have hit .205. Now, that’s something more fitting of a bottom-ranked team than a club with October ambitions.

This sudden power outage has left the front office scrambling for answers. Enter Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Pirates’ 3B. While Hayes’s consistency at the hot corner offers a good proposition for the Yanks, his acquisition, if at all, won’t be straightforward.

“Several teams are closely monitoring 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes as a trade piece, according to industry sources. Hayes is one of the players most likely to be traded, with the Tigers, Yankees, and Cubs among the potential suitors,” MLB insider Francys Romero posted on X.

With suitors already lined up behind Hayes, the Yankees’ pursuit of him may turn it into a high‑stakes bidding war.

You might be wondering why the Cubs are pursuing Hayes when they have Matt Shaw. Well, someone like Hayes could take their already-solid defense to another level. In contrast, the Yankees are in a slump, and their infield isn’t holding up too well either.

For instance, LeMahieu’s bat has gone cold again, and now he seems more of a liability than a solution. Moreover, his struggles have also forced the Yankees to move Jazz Chisholm to third, where he’s not as comfortable. Getting someone like Hayes could help the Yanks get Chisholm back to second.

When it comes to offense, the Yankees are in the middle of a brutal slump, something they haven’t seen in decades. Heading into the second game of the Angels series last week, they had scored just five runs over their previous five games. Since then, they have shown glimpses of brilliance, but they still aren’t back to their best by any stretch.

The Pinstripes are desperate for a spark, and Hayes could provide that. But is he in his prime form?

A lot of do’s and don’ts for the Yankees regarding Hayes

As the Yankees are pursuing Hayes, the first question that comes to mind is if the Pirates would be willing to trade him. There might be lingering issues between Hayes and the Pirates organization. It was rumored after the 2023 season that the team controversially fired Double-A hitting coach Jon Nunnally for working privately with Hayes without the team’s approval.

With Hayes still owed about $7.4 million annually for four more years after 2025, a fresh start at the trade deadline could make sense for both sides.

Ever since he debuted in 2019, Hayes has consistently been one of the best defenders in the game! Notably, 2019 was his best full season offensively, finishing with a league-average 100 wRC+. But things have gone downhill ever since.

Currently, he is nowhere near his prime form with the bat. This season, he’s slashing just .236/.290/.290 with a 62 OPS+, which is 38% worse than league average. But, it is the defense that is Hayes’ strength! According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 97th percentile in FRV, making him one of the very best defensive players in all of baseball.

In short, Hayes will come with his own set of baggage. But considering the lack of a reliable name at the hot corner, he might be the right option for the Yankees.