It was at some point during the last two weeks, as the Yankees were slumping for the first time since late April, that General Manager Brian Cashman decided his roster needed an upgrade. He wasn’t, however, looking to add another pitcher, as most outsiders assumed he would — at least not yet.
Instead, Cashman bolstered a known asset — home run power — in acquiring Edwin Encarnacion from the Mariners for a minor league pitching prospect and cash considerations. Encarnacion, a 36-year-old who leads the American League in home runs with 21, gives the Yankees’ lineup the potential for comic-book strength once Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton come off the injured list, as they are expected to do within the next few days.