By the time the Yankees host the Cardinals in The Bronx on Aug. 4, the day after the trade deadline, they will almost certainly have a few new players in the clubhouse.

George Lombard Jr. should be there, too.

There is certainly a case to be made that the club’s top prospect should be there as soon as Friday, when the Yankees open a series at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies. But given the amount of potential moving parts over the next 10 days ahead of the trade deadline — not to mention Lombard only being five games back from the injured list at Triple-A — it is reasonable to wait for the dust to settle by the 6 p.m. deadline on Aug. 3.

But then it will be time to make the call and summon the 21-year-old to see whether he can be part of the solution this season at shortstop.