The New York Yankees began the second half of their season with a 5-3 loss to their division rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees face a critical 10 game home stand that could very well determine whether or not they become buyers or sellers before the July 31 trade deadline.

New York Yankees Face Critical Home Stand

There’s a couple of ways you could look at the Yankees current 10 game home stand. One way of looking at it is an inconsistent team that is facing a monumental task of taking on three teams that, as of right now, are all in position of making the postseason. Another way you can look at it is as an underperforming team that is far better than the previously first half of the season has shown.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi would like to believe that his inconsistent team has just been underperforming, but on Friday night in their first game since the All-Star break, their offense only managed four hits against the Red Sox.

The Red Sox are certainly a team that is definitely in a position to make the postseason. They’ve been actively making moves to try and improve their roster as they gear up to make a run at the postseason. The Yankees, on the other hand, are a team heading into Saturday’s game with a losing record. They’re quite possibly playing their way to a fire sale as they head towards the trade deadline that is only two-and-a-half weeks away.

The Yankees begin the second half of their season with a 10 game home stand against the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and the San Francisco Giants – three teams that are currently in position to make the postseason. The Red Sox have already traded for reliever, as well as a starter in Drew Pomeranz.

The Yankees, however, keep answering questions about whether or not it’s about to become sellers. In an interview with the MLB Network on Friday, Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, suggested that he’s prepared to go in either direction.

“In my job, I’m having both conversations,” Cashman said via MLB Network. “That’s part of my job responsibilities, to be prepared the worst-case scenario happens, but also I’ve been trying to add.“

The three big names for the Yankees that have been mentioned in trade rumors are relievers Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Carlos Beltran. Other names that have also been mentioned recently, are first baseman Mark Teixeira, catcher Brian McCann and centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

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