Rob Manfred managed to screw the Yankees at trade deadline

The Yankees did nothing at the trade deadline, partially because Rob Manfred forgot to tell anyone how the 2020 playoffs would work. Common mistake!

When MLB announced their slap-dash new postseason schedule on Tuesday, featuring a lot of games crammed into a small amount of bubble, fourth and fifth starters on every team rejoiced. After all, without any off days to work with, the Yankees knew they’d need every bit of their depth to battle teams like the Rays.

Aaron Boone and the rest of those involved in the playoff field, though, didn’t really have a well-thought-out reaction to the news. With good reason, in fact: They basically found out about it when we did.

And that seems to be a bit of an issue.

After all, wouldn’t the Yankees have been more likely to reinforce their starting staff at the trade deadline if they’d known this was coming? And what about the bullpen? Maybe Archie Bradley’s price seems more reasonable if you know you need to go every single day on the road to win a title?

And to this we say: Thanks again, Rob Manfred! Even when you’re subtly screwing every MLB team, you’re somehow screwing the stand-pat Yankees the most of all!

Couldn’t give Brian Cashman a little heads up? A tiny hat tip that this was coming? That the first round of the playoffs (and every round that follows prior to the World Series) was going to look like this?

This means the Yankees, already worried about both their bullpen and rotation depth, will be forced to ration rest days for Zack Britton, Aroldis Chapman, and Chad Green in the postseason, and would really like Adam Ottavino to work his way back up the trust tree.

Boone doesn’t like to go back-to-back-to-back days with any arm, which might lead to some barren back ends in Game 3 or 4.

Additionally, the wrath of Johnny Wholestaff is going to come out in full, as the rapidity of games will probably force ALDS-bound teams to use their No. 4 and 5 starters. None of the trade deadline options that changed hands have been game changers, but it’s fair to say the Yankees would’ve liked to have this knowledge at their fingertips.

Instead? Nothing. Other teams acted anyway. The Yanks did not. Now, they must cross their fingers and pretend not to see Manfred when he waves at them in the Bubble.

Yankees: 3 trades other teams pulled off that prove NYY botched deadline

The New York Yankees had a ton of trade bait to dangle before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline, but opted to stand pat and not make a big deal.