Yankees: 3 Trade Deadline Mistakes NYY Can't Afford to Make in 2020

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The New York Yankees can’t wreck their future at the 2020 MLB trade deadline.

The New York Yankees have a prime opportunity to win a World Series ahead of them in 2020, but don’t get it twisted — this is a team set up to be very good for a very long time, even if they lose Masahiro Tanaka or James Paxton (or both) following the campaign.

While there’s a ton of urgency to capture a title in this topsy-turvy season, New York can’t afford to mortgage their future after one month of action just to compete in an overly-crowded small sample size field of teams.

In a 2020 season that could shut down at any moment (sorry) and could easily feature middling teams like the Blue Jays and Angels in the World Series, New York can’t decimate their prospect pool just for these targets.

3. Overpaying for Jeff Samardzija

Jeff Samardzija #29 of the San Francisco Giants pitches (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Jeff Samardzija would be a rather pointless New York Yankees addition.

Jeff “The Shark” Samardzija has been a rumored Yankees option for the past several years — overpaid, weighing down a team in desperate need of a rebuild, etc. The perfect example of, “Someone’s trash could be someone else’s treasure.”

But…in such an unpredictable season…why should the Yanks even bother with someone who’s currently in that “trash” category?

Samardzija went 11-12 with a 3.52 ERA last year, but will be 35 in ’20 and doesn’t miss bats with any regularity — he only whiffed 140 in 181.1 innings last season, and allowed 28 homers in a set of expansive NL West ballparks. That won’t fly on the East Coast.

If New York falls in love with Samardzija as cheap depth, that’s great! He’s a free agent following this season. But please, don’t drop your prospect capital on San Francisco’s doorstep.

2. Get Tempted by Kirby Yates

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Kirby Yates could be a great Yankee — after 2020, though.

This would be the definition of removing your nose to spite your face.

Yes, the team that emerges at the end of 2020 probably had a dominant bullpen in place, but guess what? That team is already the Yankees.

Ignoring the fact that the young and energetic Padres will probably be in the playoff race at the end of this sprint regardless, Kirby Yates has emerged as one of the top five closers in the game. He’s going to illicit a monster bidding war whenever he hits the market, whether it be at the Aug. 31 deadline or in the free agency “frenzy” that’s going to hit during this disaster of an offseason.

If New York tries to supplement their strength (Ottavino, Chapman, Britton, Kahnle, Green…) by adding Yates, they’ll have to give up an arm like Deivi Garcia or Clarke Schmidt, two players who have a much bigger intended role in the Bronx moving forward. Great player, just not worth it.

1. Risking it All for Robbie Ray

Robbie Ray #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

“Robbie Ray of the New York Yankees” will have to wait.

We’ve heard this one for nigh on an year, when it seemed that New York’s grandiose deadline ambitions in 2019 for Madison Bumgarner and Trevor Bauer had instead cratered into a Robbie Ray overpay.

Then, they didn’t even get him! And the Astros got Zack Greinke! Bad.

Ray went 12-8 with a 4.34 ERA in 2019, striking out an impressive 235 in 174.1 innings pitched, but only compiling 0.8 WAR, proving how little he contributed on a larger scale. He’ll also…likely be the strongest starter available at this year’s deadline, seeing as we can’t envision many other teams selling, other than the cost-cutting D-Backs and Pirates. Do you want Ray or Joe Musgrove? How ’bout neither?

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If he comes at a discount because the Diamondbacks are 5-20 and desperate to get something for him before he departs the desert, then fantastic. But otherwise, steer very clear of someone you shouldn’t be committing big money to after the season, either.

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Yankees: 3 Trade Deadline Mistakes NYY Can’t Afford to Make in 2020