By Derek McAdam
August 5, 2022
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If there is one thing Brian Cashman did correctly at the Trade Deadline, it was acquiring pieces that the Yankees needed. He was able to replace Joey Gallo, acquire another starter and gather more arms for the bullpen. One thing Cashman also did was go about it in very interesting ways. He made some deals that fans loved, while also making some that fans scratched their head on.
Here’s a look at each of the trades Cashman made and how they may affect the Yankees in the future.
1. Andrew Benintendi
Cashman kicked off the Trade Deadline a few days earlier by acquiring Benintendi from the Royals. While Benintendi is a rental whose contract expires at the end of the season, the Yankees needed a replacement for the struggling Gallo, and they found the former Red Sox left fielder whose hitting well above .300 this season.
This is a great first move for Cashman and the Yankees, as there were concerns regarding Benintendi’s COVID-19 vaccination status, which is crucial for the Yankees three-game series in Toronto near the end of September. What’s even more interesting is that the Yankees, at one point, seemed to be out on Benintendi because of his vaccination status, but that deemed not to be true.
This was a great start to the Yankees’ Trade Deadline, and is a trade that I would get behind any day of the week, even with Benintendi’s early struggles in the Bronx.
2. Scott Effross
At first, I thought this was an odd trade because it was not a big name that the Yankees were adding while giving up a top 10 prospect in Hayden Wesneski. But after I looked into Effross’ statistics, this seems like another solid pickup for the Yankees.
Effross is a right-handed side-armed rookie reliever that has posted a 2.62 ERA in 48 games this season. Not only is he going to be a key piece to the bullpen, but the Yankees have him under team control for the next five seasons, following the conclusion of 2022. With the possible departures of Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green and Zack Britton this offseason, the Yankees are going to need other arms in the bullpen.
At this point, Cashman is 2-for-2 with his trades, but things are about to get very interesting.
3. Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino
Here’s where I will give Cashman credit. There were only two starting pitchers that highlighted the Trade Deadline, and they were Luis Castillo and Montas. He did manage to pick up one of those two starters.
However, Yankees fans are probably worried about what happened the last time the team acquired an Oakland A’s pitcher. Anyone remember Sonny Gray? It did not work out well for the Yankees.
I will give Montas the benefit of the doubt, since this is a new regime that does not have Larry Rothschild as the pitching coach. Yankees fans still have a right to be worried about what might happen. I believe this is a more promising pitcher that the Yankees have compared to Gray, but we will have to wait and find out soon.
As for Trivino, it is another bullpen piece that the Yankees acquired. Trivino was struggling this season, but has had two solid outings for the Yankees so far. Hopefully, he is able to keep that up over the next two years of his contract.
4. Harrison Bader
This is a trade I’m okay with, but don’t quite understand (If that makes any sense). What I mean by this is that the timing of this trade throws me off more than anything. Bader is a nice addition to the outfield, but he’s hurt and there is currently no where to put him, unless the Yankees have other plans with Aaron Hicks.
But it cost the team Jordan Montgomery, who has gotten the terrible end of the stick this season with a lack of run support. Besides Nestor Cortes, Montgomery has been the most consistent starter in the rotation for the Yankees. It’s a painful way to see a homegrown Yankee leave, especially given the circumstances Montgomery has had to deal with.
Bader is a talented centerfielder who has excellent speed, but has also had his share of injuries. Maybe Bader is going to be the replacement for Hicks in the future. Maybe the Yankees did not believe Montgomery would make it on the postseason roster, as some reports have indicated.
Nonetheless, it was a strange trade that was my least favorite of the four.
When it comes to all four of these trades, it’s tough to say if they will pay off. This team is much better than it has been over the past couple of seasons. The team is hitting, pitching and fielding better. But are these trades enough?
From what it seems to me, the Yankees are still going to have a challenge winning a World Series. I don’t believe they are the best team in baseball, roster-wise, but I do believe they still have a shot at winning. However, it is going to take them getting hot at the right time if they want to win. Sometimes, a team needs a little luck on their side, and it may be what the Yankees need this year.
