Report: Yankees aggressively pursuing right-handed bat, starter

The New York Yankees are looking to beef up their starting rotation with the Major League Baseball's trade deadline two months away.

New York is aggressively pursuing a right-handed bat and would prefer a third baseman, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The Yankees own the highest wRC+ against both right-handed and left-handed pitching in the majors, but their need for a third baseman increased after Oswaldo Cabrera was sidelined for the entire season with a fractured ankle.

The right-handed hitting Oswald Peraza has been getting the majority of the reps at third in Cabrera's absence, but he hasn't produced much with the bat (.172/.243/.328).

Veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu is also an option to play third once Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns from the injured list. Chisholm also has experience playing third, but he's a left-handed hitter.

The Yankees were linked to right-handed hitting third baseman Nolan Arenado of the St. Louis Cardinals during the offseason.

In addition to a right-handed bat, the Yankees are on the hunt for a starting pitcher.

New York has four starters on the IL - namely, ace Gerrit Cole is out for the entire campaign - and could use an extra arm to fortify its rotation behind Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt. Rookie Will Warren and veteran journeyman Ryan Yarbrough are currently filling the voids in the Yankees' rotation.