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

1. Risking it All for Robbie Ray

“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?

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.