Former Yankees pitcher retiring gives fans horrid flashback despite wholesome message

Do you remember Heandog Bumpday? Where were you back in 2021 for those five outings featuring Andrew Heaney? In all likelihood, you were a New York Yankees fan suffering greatly despite watching a talented 90-win team.

The 2021 Yankees were the version of absolute hell for fans who are lucky enough to root for contending teams on a consistent basis. Not many get to say that, but even fewer get to say they follow an historic franchise whom they have genuinely hated for the past 15 years.

Brian Cashman drove that point home in 2021, 2022 and 2024 with his disastrous/barely active trade deadlines that were supposed to supplement one of the most talented rosters in MLB. After each of those junctures, it really felt like the Yankees got worse in more ways.

In 2021, the first edition of this reality, Cashman acquired Heaney in a trade with the LA Angels to "bolster" the pitching staff, and it's safe to say countless fans were incredibly confused by the move. Was this helping the rotation? Or the bullpen?

Turns out, it was neither! Heaney's best outing of the year (by far) was when he shut down the Boston Red Sox to the tune of one earned run over seven innings. It was a crucial mid-August win for the Bombers. We literally will not forget it.

But everything else? Horrid. So, so horrid. Heaney appeared in 12 games (five starts) for the Yanks and finished with a 7.32 ERA, 6.93 FIP and 1.35 WHIP. He allowed 13 home runs in 35 2/3 innings of work. The Yankees made the playoffs, but tied with the Sox in the Wild Card picture, giving Boston homefield advantage for the one game ALWC. Every bit of Heaney's malfeasance contributed to that outcome.

Remember when all the Yankees had to do was protect a 7-4 lead against the 42-92 Orioles at home in September, followed by Heaney giving the entire advantage away in 1/3 of an inning? Yeah. That game would've sent the Wild Card Game to the Bronx. It was that simple.

On Sunday, Heaney announced his retirement from MLB. And he will go out a champion, having finished the 2025 campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the deadline. Heaney logged one outing for LA, surrendered three earned runs on four hits and a walk over two innings, and was never to be seen again.

Oh, and speaking of stints with the Dodgers, that's where Heaney went immediately after he departed New York in 2021. Injuries limited him in 2022, but the left-hander had a 3.10 ERA, 3.75 FIP and 1.09 WHIP in 16 games (14 starts) with the Dodgers that year.That was one of the best stretches of his career, whereas his two months with the Yankees was one of his worst.

That same 2021 trade deadline featured the Yankees acquiring Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo, Joely Rodriguez and Tim Locastro. While Gallo was a nice try, Rizzo was solid, and Locastro represented "thinking ahead" for the playoffs, these moves hardly made the team better. After going 21-8 in August, they went 16-14 the rest of the way and then ended their season at Fenway Park. Heaney hit free agency, Rizzo was extended in what became an unfortunate pairing through 2024, Rodriguez left for the Mets, Locastro returned for 2022 and registered -0.3 WAR, and Heaney was signed (and maximized) by the Dodgers.

Heaney just finished his age-34 season after debuting in 2014. The former Marlins' first-round pick spent most of his career in Anaheim and will hang up his cleats after logging a 4.57 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 230 games (208 starts). At the very least, his lovely message to the game and those he spent time with should outweigh any ill thoughts about 2021. The holidays aren't over yet, folks! Keep that glass half full outlook going.