Around the Empire: Yankees news - 6/23/24

CBS News | Mike Axisa: Aaron Judge extended his MLB lead in homers to 28 on Saturday night and looks poised to make another run at an eye-popping home run total. But don’t expect to see him return to the event that helped accelerate his initial 2017 breakout, way back when. As a rookie, Judge won the 2017 Home Run Derby in Miami. He hasn’t participated in the event since then, and he confirmed that he won’t be involved in the 2024 edition in Texas, either. If the new Yankee Stadium is awarded its first All-Star Game in the late 2020s, though? It sounds like that will be another story.

“I’m not done with it. Once it’s back in New York, I’ll be there.”

The 2025 and 2026 editions will be in Atlanta and Philadelphia, respectively. Beyond then is up in the air.

MLB.com | Mark Feinsand: With June coming to a close and the trade deadline less than six weeks away, it’s time to start looking at what players might be available this July. Mark Feinsand breaks down the 13 biggest names that may be on the move, and lists the Yankees as potential suitors for Angels reliever Carlos Estévez, Marlins reliever Tanner Scott, and White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

New York Post | Joel Sherman: Speaking of possible trade targets, Joel Sherman writes that the Yankees should hope the Houston Astros, who were 36-40 heading into action yesterday, continue their disastrous season. While simply the fierce rivalry between the two teams is enough of a reason for New Yorkers to desire Houston’s downfall, Sherman notes that the Astros have two players, Alex Bregman and Ryan Pressly, who could be on the move at the deadline if the Astros decide to sell because they are free agents at the end of the season. Both players would fit major holes on a Yankees team that is looking for corner infield help and a strikeout arm for the bullpen.

New York Post | Dan Martin: It’s no secret that the Yankees are in desperate need of bullpen help, and in the search, the Yankees have turned to an old friend: they have reportedly signed Chasen Shreve to a minor-league deal. The 33-year-old lefty, who pitched for the Yankees from 2015 to 2018 before being traded to the Cardinals for Luke Voit, had opted out of a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers back in May. He has bounced around four different teams in the last four years.

MLB.com | Matt Monagan: During a 22-year MLB career that included nine seasons in pinstripes, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield accrued 3,310 hits, six Silver Sluggers, seven Gold Gloves, 12 All-Star appearances, and a World Series ring. What he did not have, however, was a statue — at least, that was the case until this week, when the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, unveiled one in honor of the player who played for the Alaskan Goldpanners, a collegiate summer league team, in 1971 and 1972.