Yankees News: Rival Yankees trade deadline gets more embarrassing after Cubs statement
The New York Yankees continue to face issues with their bullpen. They encountered problems in April when Jonathan Loaisiga’s injury removed a crucial swing-and-miss option, which they had been overly dependent on. In June, Clay Holmes’ performance as a closer deteriorated, with his save-blowing becoming so frequent it raised concerns about their World Series hopes.
Currently, after the trade deadline, their solution to this major issue was to add Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos, but that’s where their efforts ended.
De Los Santos was designated for assignment after giving up seven runs against the Chicago White Sox, only to be claimed by the White Sox, proving to be a good move for them.
Leiter Jr. was thrust into action with the Yankees after the trade and, despite a few initial successes, has struggled to regain his previous form. After a promising stint with the Cubs, including 7 2/3 perfect innings in July that reduced his ERA from 5.34 to 4.21, he couldn’t maintain that success with the Yankees. His ERA has ballooned to 6.48, having allowed 16 hits in 8 1/3 innings. At least he’s under contract through 2026.
Meanwhile, the Yankees traded Leiter Jr. and Ben Cowles to the Chicago Cubs, who then promoted Jack Neely, a relief prospect. Neely, who the Yankees had sent over, has posted impressive numbers with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, pitching 6 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run and striking out 13. According to a scout who likely regrets their assessment, the Yankees don’t seem to be missing out on Neely’s performance.
Not sure who I hate more: Brian Cashman, or this "rival scout" named Crian Bashman! https://t.co/WOf542KMSV pic.twitter.com/PIwuLbjqFX
— Adam Weinrib (@AdamWeinrib) August 20, 2024
Yankees might not miss Jack Neely for long, but they sure do miss him right now
The Yankees might eventually get the best out of Leiter Jr. and see his splitter regain its effectiveness. However, right now, he resembles the pitcher his statistics suggest, rather than a hidden gem overshadowed by past struggles. His fastball is susceptible, and while he can be effective when he’s on, his performance can falter dramatically, causing his ERA to spike after a few rough outings.
As for Neely, the Yankees could still build a strong bullpen without him, but promoting from within can often be more beneficial than scrambling to acquire controllable assets from other teams. After all, nurturing your own prospects is a straightforward way to add reliable arms to your roster.
Looks like the Yankees missed out once again, sorry to the rival scout who seems a lot like Brian Cashman.