According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Yankees have interest in both left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo and right fielder Marlon Byrd. Bastardo, 28, has struggled at seemingly just the wrong time for the Phillies, seeing his ERA jump by nearly a point and a half since June 28 with opponents getting on base at a .390 clip since that date. Bastardo appeared to be headed toward another solid season but has certainly sputtered while on his way to the highest innings’ pitched total of his career. Byrd, meanwhile, is one of just two National League outfielders with 20 or more homers and would immediately improve a Yankees’ right fielding corps that ranks 29th in fWAR with an AL-worst .281 OBP.
