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New York Yankees: Will they regret not trading for Manny Machado?

By Jason Evans

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 17: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles and the American League and Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the National League speak in the second inning during the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 17: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles and the American League and Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the National League speak in the second inning during the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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The New York Yankees won’t get Manny Machado in a trade and it appears there is one reason for that.

Aaron Judge. Giancarlo Stanton. Manny Machado. Gary Sanchez. If you are an AL pitcher, that’s a less than ideal foursome to face. That foursome though will only be possible in MLB The Show as the New York Yankees won’t be acquiring Machado just yet as he most likely heads to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So why is it? Why were the New York Yankees unable to trade for the superstar infielder?

It appears not wanting to trade Justus Sheffield is the reason why.

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Sheffield is the New York Yankees number two prospect according to MLBpipeline.com, 39th overall and the fifth ranked left-handed starting pitching prospect in the game. Between AA and AAA this season he is 4-5 with a 2.44 ERA, striking out 95 batters in 85 innings.

Now it’s very possible that Sheffield becomes a very important piece in the second half for the New York Yankees. With questions in the starting rotation, they could turn to Sheffield for help and depth as they battle the Boston Red Sox for the AL East. Maybe Sheffield is used like the Tampa Bay Rays did with David Price when he broke in. Bullpen weapon to start and then a starter in the following season.

With under two weeks to go until the trade deadline, it’s also possible Sheffield gets moved in another deal. Maybe to San Diego for Brad Hand and Tyson Ross. Maybe across town to the New York Mets for Jacob deGrom. Maybe for an arm no one has heard about and hasn’t seen coming quite yet. There’s always one or two of those players at the deadline that you don’t see coming who are dealt.

The New York Yankees need is in the starting rotation. Machado would have been a luxury item and I understand why Cashman was in on Machado, but on his terms.

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If Machado helps lead the Dodgers to a World Series and if Sheffield isn’t moved and isn’t good and if the New York Yankees don’t sign Machado in the off-season, then yes they will regret this decision. However, Brian Cashman held on to guys like Luis Severino, Judge and Sanchez when they could’ve dealt those. Maybe Sheffield joins that company.

Or maybe Machado hits the game winning homer in a World Series game against Sheffield this year.

We’ll have to see how it plays out.

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