As we rapidly approach the final month of the MLB season, the New York Yankees hope there’s enough time to make one final run at the postseason. If the Yankees feel like they have an opportunity to make a playoff run, than they still have about a week to comb through the August waiver wire in order to make a trade that could help improve their roster.
New York Yankees Playoff Hopes Still Alive
The Yankees were major players at the August 1st trade deadline as sellers, but we’re careful not to unload all their talent. In doing so, it allowed New York to remain competitive in hopes they’d have a chance at a Wild Card spot. If they don’t make the postseason this season, then at least they’ll head into next season in relatively good shape.
It’s why the Yankees acquired Tyler Clippard from the Arizona Diamondbacks after they traded away two of their best relievers for a pile of some really talented prospects. Acquiring Clippard probably didn’t make much sense to the fans at the time, but having a proven veteran in the bullpen allowed them to remain competitive in hopes of contending.
This is why Adam Warren was included in the Aroldis Chapman trade instead of getting a fourth prospect in return. General manager Brian Cashman has had an eye on the future while trying to contend at the same time. Cashman would like to field a team that remains relevant in the playoff hunt, while reloading for the future.
To Cashman’s credit, the Yankees are still playing meaningful baseball as they head into the final month of the season. Their chances of making the playoffs remain a long shot at the very best. As of now, the Yankees currently sit 4.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot, but if they were able to put together a winning streak, than their chances could drastically improve.
If the Yankees, with their infusion of youth, continue to win series, then there’s a real possibility that the Yankees pull off an August trade to help make that playoff push a reality. The addition of Warren and Clippard in the bullpen has been more beneficial than previously thought. The Yankees would look to make similar additions to help bolster their roster with low-cost veterans, while at the same time not affecting their rebuilding process.
If the Yankees happen to find themselves in a position to contend for the Wild Card, than there are a couple of pitchers who the Yankees could go after in Colorado Rockies lefties Jorge De La Rosa and Boone Logan. Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors recently reported that both Rockies pitchers are “logical trade candidates over the final eight days of the month, now that the Rockies are out of the playoff picture.”
Both de la Rosa and Logan are free agents after this season, so the cost of trading for them would be next to nothing considering there’s only a month left to go in the season. The 35-year-old De La Rosa has had a rough go this season with an ERA of 5.07 in 110 IP this season. Whereas former Yankees reliever Boone Logan is having a very solid season for the Rockies, pitching to an ERA of 3.11 and a 2.46 FIP in 37.2 IP.
Other pitchers who have cleared waivers this month are most likely out of the Yankees price range. Those pitchers include Joakim Soria, James Shields and outfielder Matt Kemp, all of whom are not worth the money that’s owed to them.
With major league rosters expanding to 40 spots in September, it would be wise for the Yankees to take a chance on a player or players who might help them win in the last month of the season.
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