Never count the New York Yankees out.
The Yankees were the biggest sellers during the non-waivers trade deadline, opting to deal many high-profile veterans including Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Beltran, and Andrew Miller. New York stocked up on young assets such as Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier, completely rebuilding their minor league core and finally starting a long overdue rebuild following a disappointing season.
It was a wise plan, but the Yankees playoff hopes still have a pulse.
Since the deal, the Yankees have excelled, winning 15 of 25 games. Between Alex Rodriguez departing the team and the emergence of catcher Gary Sanchez, New York’s revived their once lifeless season. At 67-62, the club now sits 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. With the postseason in play, Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports the organization has been aggressive on the waiver wire.
Sifting through waivers to find a helpful piece is a meaningful pursuit. Often, players acquired before the waiver trade window expires aren’t dealt for an exorbitant cost. The Yankees could find bullpen help or a backend rotation upgrade without giving up much, slightly increasing their Wild Card pursuit. With small tweaks, the Yankees won’t be forced to go playoffs or bust. They can add some immediate help but keep the rebuild intact. At the very least, the non-waiver trade deadline allows them to block players being claimed by the three teams ahead of them in the AL East standings.
Acting aggressive on waivers increases their chance of making it to the postseason. The Yankees are playoff contenders, even if their success was somewhat unintentional.
