5 Yankees who survived trade deadline but won’t be on 2023 roster

Feels like we can renew this article every week because that’s how often there are unforgivable individual performances poisoning this team — from the decision makers to the on-field play — since the beginning of July.

Though things have briefly turned around, nothing’s offered a cure. What was once the best, most consistent team, is now among the worst and can’t find a rhythm. It’s not like this is a surprise, though. This team is still mostly comprised of guys present on the disastrous 2021 roster.

That means the Yankees just didn’t clean house enough this past offseason to rid themselves of the stench. A lot more had to be done, and a lot more will be done when this year concludes, regardless of the outcome.

Sadly, general manager Brian Cashman could’ve done more at this year’s trade deadline. Jettisoning Joey Gallo wasn’t enough. At least two others needed to be exiled. But now that’ll be work for the offseason, when there’s more time to deliberate and make it happen.

For those who survived the trade deadline and remain in pinstripes, this last month or so of play will more than likely be their final run in New York. For some, it was good while it lasted. For others, it was never good. For the remainder, we’re just wondering what could have been.

These 5 Yankees survived the trade deadline but won’t be on 2023 roster

5. Aroldis Chapman

We’ll get this one out of the way quickly. Some of us, who were trying to be as optimistic as can possibly be, hoped that the Yankees would find a trade partner for Aroldis Chapman and his undeserved $16 million salary. How would they do that? Attach a prospect to the deal! Some teams might’ve been willing to make it happen.

But why would the Yankees try and make that happen? Their wish was coming true! Chapman was “returning to his former self!” Oh wait, that only happened for a handful of games? Then he went back to being dreadful? Then he landed on the IL with a leg infection stemming from a tattoo? Brilliant. Could’ve just dumped him.

Maybe in our wildest dreams Chapman “survived” the trade deadline, but that’s how we’ll choose to see it for the sake of our sanity. Whether true or not, he will NOT be back in 2023 unless the Yankees want riots in the Bronx.