As the days pass, the Yankees’ 2024 trade deadline is beginning to resemble a catastrophe rather than a masterclass. During the trade deadline, the New York Yankees needed to cover a few significant voids.
They have to give their infield more depth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was signed to accomplish precisely that, and he has excelled while healthy. Even if Chisholm’s elbow ailment keeps him out of the lineup for a few years, the deal appears to be a smart one for New York. The bigger problem now isn’t so much what Brian Cashman and the Yankees executive management didn’t do. They needed more pitching, so they traded for Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos rather than pursuing a top starter and some outstanding bullpen guys.
Although neither player was an outstanding choice like those other contenders were considering, they both might have suited in the bullpen.
The New York Yankees trade deadline disaster class is on full show amid bullpen woes, so let’s check in on how De Los Santos and Leiter are doing. The Yankees bullpen has been crumbling.
Here, De Los Santos is the clear flaw. Why? as he has already received a DFA. With the Yankees, he appeared in just five games and pitched 6.1 innings. He gave up three walks and 10 earned runs on 13 hits in that short amount of time. In just six innings, the right-hander managed to register a -0.6 WAR. Leiter has had difficulties as well, although not to the same extent as De Los Santos. When Leiter was transferred to the Bronx, he was enjoying a 7.2-inning stretch during which he had not given up a run. He hadn’t given up a hit in 14 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts.
Leiter has pitched 8.1 innings and allowed six earned runs since being traded to New York. In the most recent Little League Classic, he was dealt a loss due to a missed save.
It’s reasonable to conclude that the Yankees’ bullpen additions were a complete bust. Not that it helps that every time Aaron Boone puts his faith in Clay Holmes to handle the game, the fan base of the Yankees gets a heart attack. His moniker “Cardiac” Clay Holmes was given to him by Yankees fans for a purpose, and it’s not what “Cardiac Kemba” meant. Brian Cashman failed to provide the premier bullpen arms and another starter that New York required. He’s currently witnessing his shyness explode in his face.
