Yankees Make a Big Time Trade But Will it Be Enough?

By Djack

Yankees made the trade we've all been waiting for, but it wasn't quite what anyone expected. The Yankees acquired Todd Frazier, David Robertson, and Tommy Kahnle for Tyler Clippard, Blake Rutherford, and two other nobody prospects. Basically the White Sox got Rutherford, the Yankees 2016 first round draft pick, for two relievers and a guy that can play third or first. Frazier is the guy that can play third or first, so I'm sure he'll start at first since we've had 0 production from that position all year, although he's essentially the same type of player as Chris Carter, so not really sure if he's an upgrade. If Frazier was the big haul of the deal I'd be sick because he's worth about 2 pennies and a crinkled up gum wrapper. Robertson and Kahnle were the big part of the trade. Adding these guys to a bullpen of Betances and Chapman makes the Yankees starting rotations job that much easier. A bullpen loaded with great arms now will shorten the games for the starters and make it much easier for the bullpen to gain rest without putting itself at risk for blowing games. Love the decision by Cashman to bolster the bullpen because it was clearly a problem this past month and was going to continue to be. Now, Yankees have Chad Green, Adam Warren, Tommy Kahnle, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, and Aroldis Chapman, I think it's safe to say that's the best bullpen in baseball. Even with all that being said I don't think this one move will be enough to get the struggling Yankees into the postseason.

The Yankees are still missing what they've been missing for basically the entire season, a proven starting pitcher. Now that Michael Pineda is toast for the season the Yankees need an arm now more than ever. The additions to the bullpen were made to not only sure things up late in games, but to make the job of the starters easier. Tanaka, Severino, Sabathia, and Montgomery are all more than capable of being quality starters for the rest of the season, however it's that one spot that's unfilled that could cost us games that'll come back to bite us late in September. Yankees answered a lot of question marks with that one trade to Chicago, although if another move isn't made I'll be left scratching my head a little.

There were reports yesterday that the Yankees were in talks with the A's trying to land Yonder Alonso and Sonny Gray, a trade that I'm totally still for. The fact of the matter is after the White Sox trade yesterday I doubt the Yankees would make another blockbuster deal before the deadline. If they were to pull off that deal I'd be sold on the Yankees making the playoffs for sure. Another huge bat and a consistent arm would put the Yankees over the top and at that point I'd expect them to win the division. This is all in just my little fantasy world, so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

​Regardless, this was a good trade for the Yankees. We get two solid relievers and a guy that can play our two weakest positions pretty well. He doesn't hit for average, but he hits for power, and at Yankee stadium that's all that really matters. Only way this will look bad for Cashman is if Blake Rutherford turns out to be an absolute savage baseball player. It can definitely happen, after all he was a first round pick for a reason, however if he doesn't turn out to be anything but an average player, the Yankees will have fleeced the White Sox. Things are looking up for the White Sox as they now have close to 10 prospects in the top 100 as their full rebuild is in full effect. The Yankees, who are clearly trying to win now, will benefit right away from this deal, and who knows, maybe it'll be the move that gets us back into the postseason. Even though I hope Cashman is still wheeling and dealing back in his office because I don't think the Yankees are done trying to improve before the deadline.