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| Luis Gil (Photo Credit: New York Daily News) |
Optimism of Trade Deadline Lands Flat in Miami…
When the Trade Deadline ended, I felt good about the New York Yankees’ acquisitions despite their inability to snag another mid-level rotation starter. I envisioned writing a post about the positive additions, but we, as Yankees fans, are not meant for nice things. Armed with the roster enhancements, the Yankees had their butts kicked in Miami, as they were swept in the weekend’s three-game series. Hoping for momentum with the new hires, we can only hope they find the bilge water distasteful and rebound before it's too late.
The Yankees ended the weekend at 60-52 and find themselves in third place in the American League East. They are 4 ½ games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and 1 ½ games behind an inferior Boston Red Sox squad. They remain in the play-off hunt, currently holding the second Wild Card, a half-game up on the Seattle Mariners. Realistically, a handful of teams could bypass the Yankees before the season’s end, including the Mariners, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Tampa Bay Rays.
I was willing to give Manager Aaron Boone a chance during his first few years as the team’s skipper. As a first-time manager, you knew there would be some bumps and bruises along the way. For the longest time, I was amazed the Yankees did not have an experienced manager on the staff to serve as Boone’s bench coach and right-hand man. Then, the Yankees hired ex-Tigers/Angels manager Brad Ausmus. I should have been more specific with my request for a bench coach because Ausmus has not made a difference.
If the Yankees fired Boone in-season, the most likely scenario is that Ausmus would step into the role on an interim basis. As a manager, he is 386-422 (.478 winning percentage). Third base coach Luis Rojas also has managerial experience from his time leading the crosstown New York Mets. He was 103-119, with a slightly lower winning percentage (.464%). Ausmus would get the call based on the deeper managerial resume. Buck Showalter comes to mind, but I doubt Showalter would take a temporary gig, and I do not see him as a long-term candidate. Joe Girardi is available and would bring accountability back into the clubhouse. He could get someone to stand for him during the post-game interviews.
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| Joe Girardi |
I saw a random X post that said the Yankees should hire Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Sr. as their manager. He would not be an in-season option, but he will be a popular managerial candidate in the off-season, considering Detroit’s strong season. Lombard knows baseball and is the father of the Yankees’ top prospect (the latter point is not a job qualification, but it would be a nice bit of irony). I would be interested in Lombard despite the lack of managerial experience. Still, on the same token, if I endorse a candidate without the expertise, Jorge Posada is the name that immediately jumps to the forefront. Jorge’s no-nonsense approach is exactly what the Yankees need. He is focused, and he is a fighter. The Yankees would be better under that approach.
I have also seen Kevin Cash’s name mentioned. The Yankees would be better with Cash. I remember when he was announced as the Rays manager to replace the popular Joe Maddon. Cash was a coach in Cleveland and had no prior managerial experience. He has excelled. Cash would be an immediate upgrade given the Yankees’ vast resources and the success Cash has had with limited financial resources.
The Yankees have many choices to do better than Aaron Boone. My God, please, please do it. Send Boone back to broadcasting, where he had a mildly successful career, or let him go manage in a city where wins do not matter.
Usually, I would prefer to see a managerial change in the offseason, but Boone has run out the clock. I am tired of his poor in-game decisions, and the team does not need a manager who wants to be everybody’s buddy. When Girardi was fired, I moved on and tried not to look back. Girardi’s subsequent “miss” in Philadelphia lent some credence that GM Brian Cashman made the right call in not bringing back Girardi. Yet, after years of futility under Boone, I legitimately wonder if the Yankees could have won a World Series under Girardi since 2018 (when Boone took over).
Aaron Boone needs to go, and he needs to go now. Will the Yankees flush another year by standing pat with Boone, or will they light a fire and bring in a manager who can motivate the players to play to their abilities? We know Aaron Judge is a future Hall of Famer, but under Boone, Judge will be destined to match Don Mattingly’s ringless tenure as a Yankee. Aaron Judge deserves better, and so do we.
When I look at my favorite NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, I am excited about their head coach, Kevin O’Connell. I was behind O’Connell’s hire when it happened, and despite my support, he has exceeded my expectations. No championships for the Vikings under O’Connell (or ever), but the future is bright. I wish I felt as excited about the Yankees manager as I do O’Connell.
The Yankees wasted no time after the trade deadline releasing starter Marcus Stroman. Stroman, like Boone, underperformed and ultimately paid the price for it. Hold Boone to the same standard.
Boone is 100% Brian Cashman’s responsibility, and he must be held accountable. The longer Boone can mislead Baseball’s most fantastic franchise, the harder Hal Steinbrenner must consider cleaning the house. After years of the Boone Clown Show, I would not oppose a total purge of the front office.
The Yankees have gotten better at drafting, and they will hit on more than just a random Aaron Judge in future years. There might be some valuable talent to retain in the organization, but Brian Cashman, Michael Fishman, and Aaron Boone must exit Baseball’s most significant stage.
So, suffice it to say that I am not a fan of Aaron Boone and am ready for a change. If social media is any indication, I am not alone.
Yankees, please. Do Better. Be Better. The team is stronger than the clubs in front of it, and they need someone who can pull the best out of the best to leapfrog the pretenders. Boone is not that guy.
Final Word: Fire Boone!
As for the acquisitions, I thought the Yankees would acquire a starter. I did not expect a frontline ace or former ace with potential to return to elite status like Sandy Alcantara, but I was surprised they did not add at least one mid-rotation starter. Aside from the inability to land a starter, the Tradeline deadline was successful for the Yankees. They seemingly filled holes, even if the Miami series begged to say otherwise.
The acquisition of Ryan McMahon addressed a significant need. An experienced third baseman. It continues to blow my mind that the Yankees disregarded the position in the offseason. It was clear their backup plan would fail, which, as expected, it did. I wish Nolan Arenado were not on the backside of his career, on the descent. I loved the guy when I lived in Colorado and went to Rockies games. Yet, Ryan McMahon is as gifted with the glove as Arenado is/was, even if Ryan does not have the bat. The Yankees needed elite defense at third more than they needed another bat (the latter point might be questionable after the last few games), and McMahon has proven his worth. I am glad he is a Yankee and will not play what could have been with Eugenio Suarez. I like McMahon, and he fits the Yankees. Choosing the number Aaron Boone wore as a player with the Yankees is not the best decision, but I will forgive him. Maybe it is a nod to the great Dave “Rags” Righetti or Masahiro Tanaka.
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| Ryan McMahon (Photo Credit: Ishika Semanta/Getty Images) |
When the Yankees traded Carlos Carrasco to the Atlanta Braves, it was the setup for acquiring another starter. It did not happen, and I did not see Carrasco as a great option, so c’est la vie. Enjoy Atlanta. I wish the Yankees could have gotten their hands on Carrasco when he was a little younger.
The next trade after McMahon was the acquisition of former Mets/Dodgers infielder Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals. A good move. Oswald Pereza, who was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Angels, was not offering any help in a utility role. The Yankees sorely miss the versatility of Oswaldo Cabrera. Despite sometimes hitting well at Triple-A, Pereza was not a reliable Major League resource. He could flip the script in Anaheim. For him, I hope so. But for the Yankees, they are better with Rosario.
The acquisition of outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox felt so random. I get the need. With Aaron Judge’s injury, reliance on Trent Grisham is greater. The Yankees showed they did not feel Everson Pereira could be that option since they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for shortstop Jose Caballero and future considerations. I like Yankees prospect Spencer Jones despite the strikeouts, but he is not ready for the show yet so the trade for Slater made sense. It does not seem like a long-term move, but Slater can determine the outcome.
I liked the Yankees' acquisition of Caballero. The Yankees did not have great depth behind shortstop Anthony Volpe. Caballero provides an option, and he is a burner on the base paths. After a few years of not liking the guy, I look forward to seeing his energy on the team. Volpe is hitting better, so I am not ready to say flush Volpe, but at least Caballero offers an alternative.
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| Jose Caballero (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/New York Post) |
The Yankees' trade for Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar seemed inevitable. We have heard his name mentioned so routinely in recent years. His slump last year was noticeable, yet he pitched better this year (at least until his debut with the Yankees). He will be a valuable arm in the long term. I do not feel the Yankees should re-sign Devin Williams, so it would make Bednar the favorite for next year’s closer role. Maybe he captures it this year. I want both guys to pitch well this season, so I am okay; however, this plays out.
The trade for Rockies reliever Jake Bird was odd. The Yankees may have seen something they could improve. The price seemed high (second base prospect Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields), but I will give the Yankees the benefit of the doubt. Bird may become the latest iteration of Clay Holmes.
The subsequent acquisition of Camilo Doval was a surprise, and he will provide great setup for Williams, Bednar, or Luke Weaver, whoever is closing games for the Yankees, even if Doval was the San Francisco Giants' closer. I think Doval’s highest and best use is setup. He is a key eighth-inning guy and one of the best.
Adding two closers (Bednar and Doval) was huge. The plus is that both guys seem selfless and want to do what’s best for the Yankees. Only a manager like Aaron Boone could screw this up.
I will not dissect performance against the Miami Marlins, I think the newcomers will help the Yankees. Once the Pinstripes become lighter, they’ll adjust and play to the best of their abilities.
The fact that the Yankees could make effective trades without losing their elite prospects was huge. I would have loved to have seen the Yankees grab A’s closer Mason Miller before the San Diego Padres did, but I understand the value of not giving up your third-ranked prospect. I went into this deadline expecting to lose Spencer Jones or Roderick Arias. In retrospect, I am glad they held onto those guys. It does not mean they will not be traded in the offseason, but they live for another day.
Today, the Yankees are not automatically in the playoffs. They would be if the season ended today, but there is still much baseball to be played. Getting swept by the Miami Marlins is not a good sign. Not trying to dismiss the Marlins, but the Yankees should have won at least one of those games. They continue to make foolish mistakes and seem to find more ways to beat themselves. If this trend continues, the Yankees will be on the outside looking in. Changes were made to the deadline, but more changes need to be made. Does GM Brian Cashman have the stones to make the right call? Time will tell.
As always, Go Yankees!
