New York Yankees Beef Up Bullpen At Trade Deadline
As the MLB trade deadline drew to a close, the New York Yankees used this opportunity to beef up their bullpen, aiming to overcome their summer slump. In a last-minute acquisition, the Yankees acquired right-handed pitchers Mark Leiter Jr., Enyel De Los Santos, and Thomas Balboni Jr., bolstering their roster just hours before the deadline.
Leiter Joins New York And Shines In Debut
In a notable transaction, the Yankees traded infielder Ben Cowles and right-handed reliever Jack Neely to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Mark Leiter Jr. Leiter Jr. joins New York with a 4.29 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 39 appearances. His FIP of 2.11 indicates potential for improvement, suggesting that the Yankees could help reduce his ERA moving forward.
In his debut appearance, Leiter Jr. played a pivotal role in securing a victory for the Yankees. Entering the game in the bottom of the 10th inning, Leiter Jr. adeptly navigated a scoreless inning after getting into a jam. Leiter Jr's performance extended the game to the 11th inning. The Yankees ultimately clinched the win in the 12th inning.
Yankees Add More Righties
Further adding to their bullpen, the Yankees struck a deal with the San Diego Padres, acquiring Enyel De Los Santos and Thomas Balboni Jr. in exchange for minor-league outfielder Brandon Lockridge. De Los Santos, with a 4.46 ERA and 10.71 strikeouts per 9 innings, has a career record of 14-6 and two saves over 209 games.
Balboni Jr., who has shown significant progress, currently holds a 4.46 ERA with a 4-1 record and 15.7 strikeouts per 9 innings at Single-A Lake Elsinore. This marks a notable improvement from his previous season’s 7.17 ERA and 2-3 record with 9.7 strikeouts per 9 innings. Drafted by the Padres in the 15th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft from Northeastern University, Balboni Jr. brings some potential.
Flaherty Deal Goes Flat
The Yankees also considered acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers but withdrew at the last moment after reviewing his medical records. Flaherty, who has faced back issues requiring injections in early July and shoulder problems in 2021 and 2022, raised health concerns for the Yankees. The Yankees dealt with a similar situation after acquiring Frankie Montas who was sidelined with shoulder inflammation in 2022.
New York Yankees Fans Aren't Too Thrilled
However, the Yankees' trade deadline maneuvers have left some fans dissatisfied. Expectations for a high-caliber addition to the bullpen, akin to Jazz Chisholm Jr, were unmet. Some fans even called for the trade of All-Star closer Clay Holmes, who has struggled with blown saves this season. The decision to avoid left-handed relief pitcher acquisitions and retaining Holmes may hurt the Yankees' postseason aspirations in October.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS:
Order your favorite whiskey or spirit for the big game right to your doorstep and use code STADIUMRANT10 for a 10% discount at Caskers
Use code STADIUMRANT20 for a 20% discount at Bulletproof Coffee, SwingJuice and Performix.
If you love to shotgun beers, use code STADIUMRANT10 at Wild Man Drinking Company.
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!