American League’s East division has always been a fortress of the New York Yankees. They have been the reigning champions of the division for the longest time. Last season, they broke the division record by getting 99 wins under their belt. However, this season, the tables have turned and how. It has been an absolute nightmarish year for the Yanks.
Firstly, the Yankees have encountered competition from the most unexpected places. Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles have held the first and second place, respectively, with an astonishing rise this season. Both are currently seven or more games above the Bombers in the standings. Amid this, the Yanks fell to the lowest point in the season with a recent loss to the Angels.
Yankees Gutted With Series Loss To Angels!
The second half was supposed to be a lifeline for the Yankees to make a late postseason run. However, the first week turned out to be even worse. They have lost four out of the five games played so far after the All-Star break. Moreover, the recent 5-1 loss to the Angels hurt the team the most. While Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Moniak drilled Domingo German, Gleyber Torres was the only Yankee with a hit and a run for the night. With that, the club fell to the bottom of the East division, three games below the playoff wildcard spot. Anthony Rizzo called it a low point for the club. However, the skipper, Aaron Boone, still has some faith left.
Yankees manager said that the team will keep competing as it’s the only thing they can and know to do. Meanwhile, the trade deadline is approaching in a couple of weeks, and the Yanks are expected to make big moves. However, the general manager, Brian Cashman, downplayed the hype around the deadline. He believes the Yanks have a big boost incoming in the form of Aaron Judge. His return will be enough to boost the offense, as per Cashman. Well, he is not entirely wrong. No matter how many high-end moves the office manages to make at the deadline. The offensive woes will not be resolved unless the veterans come out of the slump. As the manager likes to quote, “A lot of guys are going through a tough, tough stretch. For some, probably as tough a stretch as they’ve been in their career.”
4 Yankee Players Might Not Survive Trade Deadline!
A few Yankee players might not get access to the team clubhouse after the August 1 trade deadline. Gleyber Torres, Wandy Peralta, Estevan Florial, and Will Warren are some of the names who might not be able to survive the trade deadline. After an initial explosion, Torres’ offense, as well as the defense, has been abysmal. Wandy Peralta will hit free agency next season and might be used as a trade chip, as his performance has not improved much in recent years.
Speaking of Estevan Florial, he is someone who truly deserves a place in the major league roster with his current hot streak in Triple-A. However, his absence from the 40-man roster continues to be a major roadblock in his promotion. Moreover, he is also not in the Yankees’ future plans. Hence, the team might use him as a trade chip to land an in-form outfielder. Lastly, former MLB prospect Will Warren has failed to produce anything worthy of a promotion to the majors. Hence, he, too, becomes a trade chip candidate for the August 1 deadline.