Since June 15, the New York Yankees have struggled with the worst earned-run average (ERA) in the MLB at 6.16, a stark contrast to their earlier position as leaders with a 2.77 ERA. With the July 30 trade deadline looming, the need for an upgrade in the pitching department was apparent.
The Yankees pursued this upgrade by engaging in talks with the Detroit Tigers for starting pitcher Jack Flaherty. However, concerns regarding Flaherty’s back injury arose after a review of his medical history. Additionally, the Chicago White Sox were unresponsive to the Yankees’ offers for pitcher Garrett Crochet.
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Ultimately, the Yankees focused on other areas, trading for infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and relief pitchers Enyel De Los Santos and Mark Leiter Jr. Their rotation will need to rely on internal solutions unless they decide to sign veteran Rich Hill, who recently came out of retirement.
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As reported by Jon Heyman, the San Francisco Giants were open to trading left-hander Blake Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, before the trade deadline. It would have been intriguing to have a rotation bolstered by both Snell and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, but the Yankees had other priorities.
Heyman also noted that the Yankees were hesitant about absorbing Snell’s existing contract, which includes a $30 million player option for 2025. The Yankees’ strategy seems focused on retaining superstar Juan Soto, who, alongside Aaron Judge, forms one of the most formidable duos in baseball.
The outcome of this decision remains uncertain. If the Yankees’ rotation bounces back, or if they’re successful in signing Soto, this strategy may prove sound. Yet, not acquiring Snell could haunt them, particularly given his recent performance.
Blake Snell in five starts since July 9:
0.55 ERA
41 strikeouts
.078 opponents average, the lowest allowed by any pitcher over any 5-start span in the modern era, per @OptaSTATS
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) August 3, 2024
In his last five starts, Snell has dominated, posting a mere 0.55 ERA and a .078 average against—an astonishing feat. Following a recent no-hitter, he’s established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game.
Ultimately, deciding against trading for Snell to save funds for Soto may be a risky gamble. Snell could opt out of his contract and hit free agency, where he would likely command a hefty price as one of the top pitchers available. Without insight into the Yankees’ financial flexibility, we can’t know if there was a viable path to acquiring both players.
Meanwhile, Snell will be navigating a murky playoff race in San Francisco, and the Yankees could find themselves lamenting their choice at the deadline, especially if Snell chooses to test free agency at the end of the season.