NEW YORK – Over the last few days the Yankees were dreaming big about Juan Soto, Luis Castillo and, yes, even Shohei Ohtani. The possibilities were breathtaking. Social media was berserk with round-the-clock gossip. Any combination of the three-headed monster might’ve transformed Yankees into the team that was playing .700 ball two months ago.
But Monday morning rolled around and with it, reality. GM Brian Cashman ratcheted down from chasing superstars to a series of sharp, smart deals that a) improved the starting rotation b) rejuvenated a tiring bullpen and c) targeted the one team the Yankees can’t seem to beat. Oh, you know who.
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It’s no coincidence that Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino, both acquired from the A’s, have had success against the Astros. Barring an early-round upset, the Yankees will end up in Minute Maid Park in the League Championship Series. Cashman knows this is the Bombers’ best chance to get to the World Series since 2009. He’s also aware the Astros are the only team that can stop them.
That’s why Montas is wearing pinstripes today. In 13 starts against Houston since 2018, the right-hander has held the Astros to two or fewer runs 11 times. In the last seven appearances, Montas has a 2.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 36.2 innings.
Montas will replace Domingo German, an immediate upgrade, and it’s likely he’ll take Jameson Taillon’s spot in the post-season rotation, too. Depending on how quickly Luis Severino recovers from his current lat injury, the Yankees will send Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Montas and Severino into battle against Houston.
I like this rotation. Quite a bit, actually.
It’s true, Montas isn’t Castillo, but one American League executive I spoke to this week said, “the Yankees are going to like what they’re getting (from Montas): plus fastball, plus slider-split, both well above average. And he wants the ball in the big spots. That’s a big thing.”
Trivino is more of a gamble in light of his 6.47 ERA. As recently as two weeks ago the Yankees had taken the right-handed reliever off the radar. But their interest was renewed by a surge of efficiency against – you guessed it – the Astros. Trivino picked up back-to-back saves while the A’s were pulling off a miracle three-game sweep of Houston.
He’s also managed to contain two of the Astros’ most dangerous hitters, Jose Altuve (career 3-for-15) and Alex Bregman (2-of-10). Despite the small sample size, Cashman is clearly willing to use any and all weapons to take down the Astros, who’ve beaten the Yankees 5-of-7 times this year. In the four games played at the Stadium, Houston has held the lead in 35 of 37 innings.
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That’s what compelled Cashman to circle back and invest in Trivino’s sinker. His 52.1% ground ball ratio is far better than the major league average (44.9%). The Yankees are additionally convinced Trivino’s .451 batting average with ball in play (BABIP) was more a reflection of the A’s poor infield defense than an indictment of his two-seamer.
Trivino will benefit from having Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa behind him. He’ll also get an adrenaline surge from the bigger market, bigger crowds and the overall urgency of the Yankees’ season. Coupled with Scott Effross, who Cashman picked up from the White Sox earlier in the afternoon, the Bombers have effectively recovered from the devastating losses of Michael King and Chad Green in the bullpen.
I’d give Cashman an A-minus for his 11th hour moves, although as in any trade, it remains to be seen how the new Yankees will adapt.
Remember the front office’s excitement when Joey Gallo arrived from Texas a year ago? Cashman was convinced by his analytics department the Yankees were getting a high-output home run machine who’d draft behind Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The prediction couldn’t have been more wrong.
Gallo’s star-crossed career in the Bronx will end Tuesday, one way or another, either by trade or outright release. So the enthusiasm of the latest additions, while encouraging on paper, have to be tempered for now.
Still, Cashman deserves credit for losing only one key prospect – pitcher Ken Waldichuk – throughout the process. The roster’s makeover, including the pick-up of left fielder Andrew Benintendi last week, occurred without surrendering Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, Jasson Dominguez or Austin Wells.
That leaves the Yankees well stocked for the future, or maybe for one more deal before Tuesday’s 6 p.m deadline. Cashman is still looking for one more piece.
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According to NJ Advance Media’s Brendan Kuty, the Bombers are among the team who’ve inquired about outfielder Brett Phillips, who was designated for assignment by the Rays earlier in the day. The Red Sox and Phillies are also reportedly interested.
Phillips is only a .190 career hitter and was struggling badly this year (.147) before the Rays cut ties. But he’s a gifted outfielder who’s mostly patrolled center and right. Phillips could, theoretically, serve as a late-inning replacement on the days Matt Carpenter starts in right.
Either way, Cashman is barreling to the finish line, obsessed with the goal of elevating the Yankees from a very, very good club to a monolith that everyone fears.
That includes the Astros. Especially the Astros.
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Bob Klapisch may be reached at [email protected].