The Yankees are 3.5 games back in the AL East, but they also had the kinds of problems that can wear on a team over the course of a long season and sink them in a hurry. We had already seen evidence of this basically once summer began, as New York is just 9-21 since winning six in a row in early June, dropping 7.5 games in the standings in that time. On Tuesday night, the Yankees made a trade that should plug a few holes and help stop all that bleeding.
The Yankees fixed a couple of problems with one trade
Wednesday’s Say Hey, Baseball looks at the Yankees-White Sox swap, J.D. Martinez to Arizona, and trade rumors from around the league.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
New York upgraded at third base by dealing for Todd Frazier, but he didn’t come alone, as relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle came with the White Sox’s third baseman. While Frazier isn’t a star, he’s a capable bat with a 105 OPS+ in 2017, whereas Headley’s is 20 points below that, well below average both for the league as a whole and, more specifically, the hot corner.
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Since New York also has issues in center with offense when Jacoby Ellsbury plays and at first base when anyone is playing, plugging one hole in the lineup could go a long way.
The duo of Robertson and Kahnle are the real upgrade, however. While they’re relievers, not starters, New York’s rotation just lost Michael Pineda, meaning they’re going to get even more starts from pitchers who probably shouldn’t be making them: Having more quality relievers to soak up the innings and bridge to the back end of the bullpen will help the Yanks mitigate that problem, and will keep the good relievers they already had from burning out before September.
It helps, too, that Kahnle is not only dominant but also hasn’t even hit his arbitration years yet. The Yankees gave away prospects to improve now, but having Kahnle around for the long run ensures they got something out of this even if 2017 ends without New York making the postseason.
- The Twins, Brewers, and Royals are all competing, but the decision to go for it at the trade deadline isn’t an easy nor simple one for any of the bunch.
- The Angels and Nationals played each other on Tuesday, which means Mike Trout and Bryce Harper played each other, and the result of that was the two of them both hitting dingers in the same game, and in the same inning, even.
- The price for J.D. Martinez, who has been a great hitter for years now, seemed pretty low. However, he’s a corner guy with no defensive skills and a pending free agent, so maybe that’s just the market for that profile despite his bat.
- If that is indeed the price for Martinez everywhere and not just when the D-Backs ask for him, maybe the Yankees still have room to acquire Yonder Alonso to solve their issue at first.
- They might still have room to add Lucas Duda instead of Alonso, though, we’ll see if the Mets actually give him up.
- Even if they don’t follow up with a first baseman, the Yankees’ trade shows they’re committed to a postseason push.
- The only people thrilled with the cost of Martinez, by the way, are Diamondbacks fans.
- White Sox fans should be happy with their prospect package, at least.
- The White Sox didn’t just further commit to their future with their trade, but they also called up top prospect Yoan Moncada on Tuesday.
- We’re running a daily rumor roundup now so you can keep up during trade deadline season.
- In addition, we also have a trade rumor tracker that will be continually updated throughout the day and night.
- In non-rumor news, it’s been some month for baseball-themed gender reveals.
- Edwin Jackson is back, which resulted in not one, but two major features on the starter.
- Chris Christie caught a ball at the Mets game and was promptly booed by the whole stadium.
- Mariners minor leaguers had to take a $683 Uber ride in order to get to a game on time.
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