NEW YORK \u2013 Not a bad weekend for the New York Yankees, considering they were still without Aaron Judge, faced a disadvantage against the Boston Red Sox\u2019s abundance of left-handed pitching and failed to address their needs for catching and bullpen help at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n
The Yankees tried for impact relievers, according to people briefed on the discussions. They could have prevented catcher Adley Rutschman from going to the Red Sox if they were willing to part with a package heavy on major-league talent. They even talked to the Toronto Blue Jays about right-handed starter Kevin Gausman.<\/p>\n
However, the combination of a thin bullpen market and a depleted farm system compromised the Yankees\u2019 pursuits. Their only additions turned out to be two hitters they desperately needed to boost a sagging offense, Luis Garc\u00eda Jr. and Heliot Ramos.<\/p>\n
For now, all is well in the Bronx. By winning three of four from the Red Sox, the Yankees not only clinched the season series, but also built a four-game cushion over their AL East rivals in the wild-card race, effectively five games with the tiebreaker. They are in excellent position to again gain home-field advantage if they continue their path toward a second straight meeting with Boston in the wild-card round.<\/p>\n
Of course, the Yankees\u2019 goals go beyond advancing to the Division Series. As strong as the Tampa Bay Rays look, holding the best record in the American League, a second World Series appearance by the Yankees in three years should be realistic if Judge is close to his usual self after missing more than three months with a fractured rib.<\/p>\n
That is, if the Yankees\u2019 pitching holds together, which hardly is a sure thing.<\/p>\n
Lefty Ryan Weathers, who has a 3.60 ERA in 25 starts, recently hit the injured list with a flexor strain in his forearm. Righty Fernando Cruz, a stalwart in the bullpen, could miss significant time with an elbow injury.<\/p>\n
Where old Yankee Stadium once stood, a decrepit park remains<\/p>\n
Sam Blum and Johnny Sweet<\/p>\n
And, while Max Fried pitched well Saturday night in his return from his second stint on the IL with a left elbow bone bruise, Fox analyst Adam Wainwright raised concerns about the way the left-hander was finishing his pitches \u2013 ominous insight from a former pitcher who dealt with the same injury in his career.<\/p>\n
Not all of the news is discouraging. Righty Clarke Schmidt threw 20 pitches Saturday in his first rehab appearance coming off Tommy John surgery. And on Sunday, the Yankees summoned from Triple A their oft-injured 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, righty Luis Gil.<\/p>\n
Both Schmidt and Gil are candidates for the postseason bullpen. They certainly are more realistic options than some of the journeymen the Yankees continue to cycle through, pitchers such as Justin Topa and Michael Fulmer.<\/p>\n
Then again, we\u2019re still talking about a lot of \u201cifs.\u201d Which brings us back to the deadline.<\/p>\n
The Yankees seemed poised to add bullpen help after trading Camilo Doval to the Pittsburgh Pirates and including two relievers with major-league experience, Jake Bird and Yovanny Cruz, in the package they sent the Washington Nationals for Garc\u00eda Jr.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, few high-end relievers moved. The San Diego Padres held two the Yankees actively pursued, Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon. Perhaps the best reliever traded was Luke Weaver, who went to the Pirates and had an additional year of control.<\/p>\n
Which isn\u2019t to say the market was barren.<\/p>\n
Both of the Yankees\u2019 primary AL East rivals, Tampa Bay and Boston, acquired relievers who are pitching well and under additional club control. The Red Sox added three-plus years of Erik Miller for infielder Marcelo Mayer. The Rays added one-plus year of Tyler Wells for pitching prospect Michael Forret.<\/p>\n