The New York Yankees, known for their offensive firepower, have often been seeking ways to bolster their pitching staff. The lack of solid starters hurt their 2022 postseason campaign as they lost to Houston Astros in ALCS. Moreover, the situation this year is far from better. Prior to the commencement of the ongoing 2023 season, the team had only one healthy starter in the rotation, Gerrit Cole.
The rest of the rotation, which includes Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Frankie Montas, missed significant time due to injuries. While Cortes and Severino returned just in the nick of time, Rodon and Montas continued to fight on the sidelines. Also, the rumors have it that the duo of Rodon and Montas might not be able to pitch the whole season as they face repeated setbacks. Under such circumstances, the Yankees front office are looking out for options. On top of that, the captain, Aaron Judge’s latest Instagram story, has further added fuel to the speculation.
Aaron Judge Spotted In The Same Frame Alongside Padres Pitcher Blake Snell, Sparks Trade Rumors
The New York Yankees have found themselves at the center of trade speculation following a social media post shared by their captain, Aaron Judge. The star slugger for the New York Yankees recently posted an Instagram story featuring himself and Blake Snell, the talented left-handed pitcher who currently plays for San Diego Padres. The story, which captured the two players smiling and enjoying each other’s company, quickly caught the attention of fans and the media. It’s worth noting that Snell initially shared a story to which Judge responded by reposting it on his own handle.
LHP Blake Snell remains a former recipient of the Cy Young award and also featured in the All-Star team in 2018. After spending five seasons alongside the Tampa Bay Rays, Snell was traded to San Diego Padres in 2021. With the Padres, his ERA soared to 3.91. Moreover, he has had an average start to the 2023 season with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts. It’s safe to say that Snell is not the same pitcher as he was in 2018. Still, the 30-year-old has enough room to grow and could very well be a valuable addition to the Yankees bullpen. If a trade were to happen, the Bronx Bombers would not lose much, and it could be a win-win deal for them. All things considered, the Yankees might sincerely think about Blake Snell in the upcoming trade deadline.
Yankees Captain Shakes Hands With A Rival Shortly After Trashing His Team
Last week, the New York Yankees faced the San Diego Padres in a three-game series. After losing the series opener, the Bombers bounced back to win the series by sealing the remaining fixtures. The captain, Aaron Judge, slammed a home run in the rubber game, which helped the Yankees take home another crucial series victory. However, a strange moment after the game caught the fan’s attention.
Aaron Judge, the Yankees star, was seen greeting Padres pitcher Blake Snell. The duo shared a cordial moment, and Snell looked in absolute awe at his friend. The pitcher even posted a picture on the meetup on Instagram and garnered Judge’s heartwarming response on the same. The picture of the two rivals has gone viral on social media as the fans sense a brewing friendship between the two-star players.