Yankees: Expect Mike Foltynewicz to Join Red Sox Instead of NYY and Start Dominating

Mike Foltynewicz is broken, but it’s nothing the Red Sox can’t fix for no reason. Sorry, Yankees fans.

The very second the Atlanta Braves DFA’d the struggling Mike Foltynewicz, their 2018 All-Star pitcher and ace, Red Sox AND Yankees fans united in the comments to discuss whether or not their team could manage to acquire him.

You know you’ve made a bold move when, minutes after the button is pressed and everything is made official, multiple fan bases are licking their chops about picking up the supposed scraps.

After another horrific outing in Tampa, where Folty’s velocity plateaued around 91, about four-five miles per hour down from his peak, the Braves cut bait on their very recent ace and his 16.20 ERA. And, though he’s very much still looking for answers, we’re all fairly certain he’ll find a home soon.

It’s only natural that Yankees fans are intrigued by the possibility of Foltynewicz — after all, in 2018, his rapid fastball and hot breaker were dominant. But NYY fans should be cautious. That’s not at all the Foltynewicz who’s shown up the past year and a half.

Of course, that will be the Foltynewicz who shows up when the Red Sox inevitably acquire him. There’s absolutely no logic behind that claim, but that’s just…how it works.

Since we’re still within the first 20 games of the 2020 regular season, waiver priority falls on last year’s winning percentage, so he likely won’t reach the scuffling Red Sox on a claim alone. They’ll have to trade for him, but…if you’ve seen their rotation…you’ve got to expect they’ll find a way to do so.

Even an experimental Folty is more interesting than Matt Hall or Josh Osich.

Yankees fans got their hopes up here, and for good reason.

After all, the back end of their rotation is slightly unproven, especially without Masahiro Tanaka involved, and with a bullpen day planned every cycle.

The Yanks have long targeted Folty, in fact, and attempted to pry him from the Braves back in the Brian McCann talks of 2016. McCann instead went to the Astros for Albert Abreu, which we’re still waiting for the payoff on.

But I’d say go ahead and get those hopes back down. Even with pitching guru Matt Blake in the mix, Foltynewicz looks beyond saving and very depleted.

That won’t be the case once he arrives in Boston, of course. Couldn’t tell you why. But…you feel it, too.