In a race against time, the New York Yankees are feeling the pressure to make impactful deadline moves as they strive to end their 15-year World Series drought. The acquisition of Juan Soto has amplified expectations for a championship run, but recent struggles have highlighted the team's vulnerabilities.

Despite having a formidable duo in Soto and Aaron Judge, often compared to the legendary partnership of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, the Yankees have faltered with a record of 10-21 since their strong start to the season. The bullpen has shown signs of weakness, undoing the solid work put in during the early months. The starting rotation has also become inconsistent despite the return of ace Gerrit Cole from injury. Additionally, the absence of Giancarlo Stanton, who strained his left hamstring in June, has left a significant void in the lineup.

Realizing that success requires a complete team effort, Soto expressed the need for contributions from all players, stating, "It's going to take more than two guys to go to the World Series and win it." Soto's own experience winning a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019 has given him perspective and added motivation to pursue another title.

To maximize their chances of retaining Soto and bolstering their lineup, the Yankees' front office, led by general manager Brian Cashman, is actively scouring the trade market until the deadline at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The team's primary focus is to strengthen their bullpen and enhance their offensive production at second base and third base. There is also a possibility of adding another starting pitcher.

Recognizing the need to give up talent to acquire talent, the Yankees are open to trading outfield prospect Spencer Jones while hesitating to move their top prospect, Jasson Dominguez. Dominguez's potential has been hampered by injuries, but his return could provide a boost to the outfield alongside Stanton and Trent Grisham.

The infield, which has struggled significantly, is another area where the Yankees are seeking upgrades. DJ LeMahieu, who was previously a reliable hitter and two-time batting champion, has had a dismal season thus far, batting .183 with a meager .275 slugging percentage. Gleyber Torres, who was expected to have a breakout season, has underperformed with a .230 batting average and a league-leading 12 errors among second basemen.

Various infield options are being considered, including Luis Rengifo from the Los Angeles Angels, Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies (though the Rockies have indicated they won't trade him), and Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds (pending the Reds' playoff race performance). Nico Hoerner from the Chicago Cubs and Jazz Chisholm from the Miami Marlins are also potential targets, with certain concerns surrounding Chisholm's fit within the clubhouse.

The Yankees' bullpen, an area of major focus, requires a dominant late-inning reliever who can consistently miss bats. Despite their interest in standout pitchers like Mason Miller from the Oakland Athletics, the astronomical price has made a trade for him highly unlikely. Other options being considered include Tanner Scott from the Miami Marlins, Kyle Finnegan from the Washington Nationals, Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels, and Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Finally, the starting rotation, which had performed admirably early on, has stumbled in recent weeks. Despite positive signs from Gerrit Cole's recent starts, the Yankees may look to acquire additional depth or a front-line starter to solidify their rotation, especially with concerns over the workload of pitching prospect Luis Gil.

With the trade deadline looming, the pressure is on for the Yankees to make the right moves to bolster their chances of a playoff push. As they pursue upgrades in key positions and aim to find the missing pieces to complement their star players, the Bronx Bombers hope to reverse their recent slide and reignite their championship aspirations.