Yanks must stay healthy to succeed

After stumbling into the All-Star break, the Yankees are in serious danger of missing the postseason for just the second time in the past 19 years. The Bombers currently sit in fourth place in the AL East, yet are a manageable six games behind the first-place Red Sox.

As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, general manager Brian Cashman must decide whether the Yankees are buyers or sellers. If getting back Derek Jeter and the upcoming returns of Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson can add productivity to the lineup, there’s no reason the Bombers can’t find their way into the postseason.

Regardless of who is on the roster, the Bombers will have ample opportunity to get back into the playoff hunt. The Yankees will play 39 of their remaining 67 games against division opponents, including 13 against the Red Sox beginning with Friday night’s game in Boston.

For the Yankees to have a successful second half, the key will be getting healthy and, more important, staying healthy. Granderson and Jeter have combined to play in nine games this season, but are slated to return to the lineup soon after the All-Star break. A-Rod is expected back on Monday.