Yankees at the Trade Deadline: It’s Time to Go All-In
- Will Tondo
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Last night’s game? A whirlwind. One minute, you’re screaming at the TV after another Anthony Volpe error, the next, you're cheering him on with another electric home run. The duality of Volpe needs to be studied, but that's for a later blog. After it was all said and done, the Yankees closed in on a gritty extra-inning win.
That kind of chaos has become familiar territory for the 2025 Yankees, a team with elite talent, flashes of dominance, and just enough inconsistency to drive their fans clinically insane.
But despite the defensive lapses and bullpen shakiness, they found a way. And with the Yankees at the trade deadline today, the front office is finally starting to find ways, too.
So far, the Yankees have made three additions: Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, and Austin Slater. Ryan McMahon gives this team something it has desperately lacked for years: a real third baseman. No more IKF patch jobs or DJ playing out of position. McMahon brings power, defensive stability, and a lefty bat that profiles well at Yankee Stadium. Amed Rosario adds versatility and depth. He’s not going to win you a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger, but he can play multiple infield spots and adds a competent right-handed bat off the bench. Austin Slater is a sneaky pickup. He hits lefties, runs well, and doesn’t need everyday reps to stay productive. For a team with a congested outfield room (more on that in a bit), Slater is the ideal 4th/5th outfielder.
The theme here? Competency. The Yankees finally added depth, something they've been missing for years. We no longer have to roll out a Little League bench in September.
But depth is just one layer. This team still has flaws...real ones. If the Yankees are serious about chasing a title, here’s how they do it:
Yankees at the Trade Deadline - The Dream 4 Trades to Finish the Job
1. Padres Blockbuster
Yankees get: Dylan Cease (SP) + Robert Suarez (RP)
Padres get: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (RHP), Keiner Delgado (2B/SS), J.C. Escarra (C), Trent Grisham or Jasson Dominguez (OF)
Cease is the high-strikeout righty this staff needs, and Suarez brings some late-inning fire to the pen. Yes, Grisham goes, but with Slater and Dominguez in the mix, it’s time to trim the fat. Now, I am seeing the reports that the Padres might buy. In that case, I could see a situation where a Sandy Alcántara or Zac Gallen-type pitcher, along with a reliever, is acquired in a similar package.
2. Twins Deal
Yankees get: Joe Ryan (SP) + Willi Castro (UTIL)
Twins get: Carlos Lagrange (RHP), Brock Selvidge (LHP), Jorbit Vivas (UTL), Jared Serna (INF)
Joe Ryan is a controllable mid-rotation arm with swing-and-miss stuff. Castro adds even more versatility—he’s a younger version of what the Yankees hoped Marwin Gonzalez would be in 2022.
3. A's Fire Sale
Yankees get: Mason Miller (RP)
A's get: TJ Rumfield (1B/3B), Cam Schlitter (RHP), Ben Shields (LHP)
Miller is the most electric arm on the market. If the Yankees can land him, they suddenly have a bullpen with real teeth.
4. Pirates Swing
Yankees get: Mitch Keller (SP) + David Bednar (RP)
Pirates get: Roderick Arias (INF), Chase Hampton (RHP) Ben Hess (RHP), Everson Pereira (OF)
Keller gives you another legit rotation piece. Bednar is the Bronx version of Clay Holmes 2.0—heavy sink, big outs. Yes, it’s a big prospect haul, but flags fly forever.
This proposal comes out as an aggressive one, but the reports are saying Cashman is going to swing for the fences. He knows that if they don't get it done, the pitchforks will be at his door. Not heading back to the Fall Classic would be a fireable offense. If the Yankees had traded away all of their prospects outside of Judge over the last ten years, nothing would have changed. Emptying the farm with the potential that is on this team could be the move. Let's all pray Cashman pulls out some deadline tricks to turn this fallacy into reality.