By most accounts, the New York Yankees won the trade deadline.
They had approached the deadline with specific needs. An outfielder, an upgrade in the rotation, and bullpen depth were their primary targets. At the same time, they needed to find a taker for Joey Gallo as he clearly could not handle the pressure of New York.
New York Yankees continue to lose despite winning on paper
The Yankees did what they needed to do. Gallo was shipped off to the Dodgers and New York actually received a decent prospect in return. Andrew Benintendi had been acquired days previously to fill that void in left. Frankie Montas, the second best starting pitcher on the trade block, was brought in to fortify the rotation. Lou Trivino and Scott Effross helped solidify the bullpen. While Jordan Montgomery was a big loss, the Yankees appeared to have done everything they needed to. The Yankees also kept their top four prospects, seemingly a major win for the future.
But that is why the games are not played on paper and winning the trade deadline does not necessitate a playoff berth. Trivino and Effross have been as hoped, but the Yankees’ larger additions have disappointed. Benintendi, the best outfielder available, has posted a .188/.296/.304 batting line with six doubles in 82 plate appearances. Montas has allowed 14 runs on 18 hits and six walks, striking out eight, over his 14 innings.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are in free fall. They are 3-12 since the trade deadline, their lead having shrunk to eight games in the AL East. While they are not in any danger of missing the postseason at this point, there has to be some concerns that they could find their stranglehold on the division slipping away.
There have been mitigating circumstances. Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Carpenter, two of the Yankees’ best hitters, are on the Injured List. The no-name bullpen that had been so good at the start of the year has come back to Earth. Other players that needed to step up simply have not.
Regression is catching up to the Yankees at the worst possible time. They had been viewed as a flawed team at the start of the season, lacking punch at several positions and in desperate need of help in the lineup and bullpen. Even now, after a trade deadline that they had seemingly won, that is still the case. And it could end up haunting them down the stretch.
The New York Yankees did everything they needed to at the trade deadline. It just has not mattered when it comes to wins and losses.