Complete Yankees trade deadline grades after Brian Cashman forgot to get a catcher

While it wasn't quite the same as 2023, when the New York Yankees forgot to sell or buy or do anything really, the Bombers ... pretty objectively did not meet their mandate on Monday afternoon. Brian Cashman may be veering towards the end of his era in pinstripes. He may be getting closer to handing the reins to an underling. Whether or not a succession plan really is in place, Monday's action made it seem like he got off track and forgot the thesis.

That leaves us with an odd trade deadline where Cashman made three moves, all of them pretty good, but did not acquire a catcher of any kind, watched Adley Rutschman go to the rival Red Sox (for a haul) instead (with reportedly scary medicals), and didn't reinforce the bullpen, either. That's how you end up with positive marks on everything you did do and a wandering side-eye at the end of it all anyway.

Complete grades for Brian Cashman's attempt to patch a million Yankees holes at 2026 MLB Trade Deadline

Aug. 1: Yankees trade Camilo Doval to Pittsburgh Pirates for minor-league catcher Omar Alfonzo (MLB Pipeline's No. 17) and Luis Cruz. GRADE: A.

Knowing when to fold 'em has not been Cashman's strength, but kudos on cutting bait here when it was absolutely necessary to do so. Doval has the stuff to be one of the most elite relievers in the world, but the fact that it hasn't clicked in a year (with Yankee Stadium as his 7.08 ERA home park) indicates it probably won't in this particular lab. Maybe it will in Pittsburgh. It will somewhere at some point. The fact that it hasn't yet indicates there's something going on beyond what meets the eye. Something that probably lies between the ears.

The Yankees targeted a high-power, low-hit catcher and a lottery ticket. This move had to happen.

Aug. 2: Yankees acquire Luis Garcia Jr. from Washington Nationals for Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert, and Jake Bird. GRADE: B+

It's hard to argue with adding power to a powerless lineup, and Garcia is the NL's current slugging percentage leader, just a tick better than Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. He also seems like the type of personality fit the Yankees could use, leaving a genuine mark on the Nationals' clubhouse as their longest-tenured player (a veteran at 26 years old).

The positional fit is awkward, to say the least. He'll relegate Paul Goldschmidt to an option against lefties only, which will keep him off his feet (hopefully the right amount). He can mash, but he can't field proficiently, taking to first base in a pinch this year. If Goldschmidt's role has been downshifted, Giancarlo Stanton now feels borderline irrelevant. Good on the Yankees to plan for his absence, but doesn't exactly fill a "need" other than "desperation in search of power". Grable, Cruz and Cebert all have a chance of being successful in the bullpen/back end of the Nationals' rotation, but the Yankees can afford to lose them. Also, um ... Jake Bird. Know when to fold 'em.

Aug. 3: Yankees acquire Heliot Ramos from San Francisco Giants for Henry Lalane and Kaeden Kent. GRADE: B.

The Yankees get a big controllable bat (through 2029) who's boomed at the big-league level, especially against left-handed pitching (.847 career OPS against southpaws). This is where the analysis starts to go south, though. Garcia was a viable bat and an odd fit. Ramos is a better fit, but still feels like Piece No. 2 of 4. Kent and Lalane were two top-15 names in the Yankees' system, and they opted to cash in Lalane during his one healthy season instead of hoping his significant upside eventually manifested in the Bronx. This grade, in context, is lower than it would be in a vacuum.

OVERALL GRADE: C-

This is, to put it simply, one of Brian Cashman's worst deadlines as a full-time executive. Not only did he not reinforce the bullpen, but he weakened it, sending Grable and Cruz to Washington. Not only did he not add the catcher we dreamt of (Rutschman), but he didn't add a catcher at all. Tyler Stephenson of the Reds, hardly a defensive mastermind, has OPS marks of .795 and .947 in June or July. He didn't move. Liam Hicks would've been an imperfect defensive addition, too, but we'll see his level of impact up close and personal the next time the Rays come to town, presumably still looking down at the Yankees in the standings.

Cashman set up some intriguing building blocks to start the proceedings, then forgot to finish it, distracted and meandering. The individual moves should pay off. But the sum of the parts still pales in comparison to the whole they needed to polish off.

Play our New York Yankees Time Machine game!

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow