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Steinbrenner will consider adding; won’t deal top prospects

FILE-  This Aug. 17, 2016 file photo shows New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner talking to the media at the baseball owners' meetings in Houston. Given his team’s fast start after jettisoning veterans last summer, Steinbrenner will consider adding players as the trade deadline approaches in July. Steinbrenner said New York will not trade top prospects. Speaking Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the baseball owners’ meeting, he said starting pitching has been a “pleasant surprise.”  (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, file)
FILE- This Aug. 17, 2016 file photo shows New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner talking to the media at the baseball owners' meetings in Houston. Given his team’s fast start after jettisoning veterans last summer, Steinbrenner will consider adding players as the trade deadline approaches in July. Steinbrenner said New York will not trade top prospects. Speaking Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the baseball owners’ meeting, he said starting pitching has been a “pleasant surprise.” (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, file) FILE- This Aug. 17, 2016 file photo shows New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner talking to the media at the baseball owners' meetings in Houston. Given his team’s fast start after jettisoning veterans last summer, Steinbrenner will consider adding players as the trade deadline approaches in July. Steinbrenner said New York will not trade top prospects. Speaking Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the baseball owners’ meeting, he said starting pitching has been a “pleasant surprise.” (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, file)

NEW YORK (AP) – The Yankees may be buyers, not sellers, as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

Led by young stars Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, the retooled Baby Bombers began Wednesday in the AL East lead at 23-13, a seven-win improvement over last year at this time. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said New York’s starting pitching has been a pleasant surprise to him, and he will consider making roster additions – but will not trade top prospects.

“We’re going to see where we’ve at, what options are available and what those options would cost,” he said at the baseball owners’ meetings.

New York traded Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran last summer, and released Alex Rodriguez. New York’s offense improved following the injection of youth, and the generational change has helped fans connect with younger players. The Yankees’ television ratings rebounded to their highest level since Derek Jeter’s final season in 2014.

“We actually have young players for fans to be excited about, particularly the millennials, who are always Facetiming and Snapchatting,” Steinbrenner said. “They do these Facetime interviews and these Twitter question-and-answer things that 10 years ago none of us would be talking about and I still don’t understand, but they do them and clearly younger fans are really enjoying it.”