Former Yankees traded at 2026 deadline features one surprise fans wanted to forget

We'll have plenty more insight on the Yankees' laughable 2026 trade deadline that did nothing to improve their current standing. They made their pitching staff thinner. They maintained one of the worst catching duos in the league. They made the most strained parts of their roster more inflexible.

And what do you know. Once again, the first game after the trade deadline, the Yankees got shellacked in a 13-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, which featured a blown game thanks to a seven-run eighth inning. Every year it's the same thing, and nobody cares.

These former Yankees are well aware of that, too. Plenty of names were on the move at this year's deadline as cotenders sought upgrades and others hoped to instill a change of scenery. In fact, we thought the Yankees might be interested in a few reunions.

Turns out, they were more concerned with maintaining a mediocre status quo that will get them bounced no later than the ALDS.

7 former Yankees traded at the 2026 deadline bring back plenty of memories

Josh Smith from Rangers to Blue Jays

This is perhaps the one we regret hearing about the most. Smith, who is now an AL East rival, was part of the trade package that acquired Joey Gallo back in 2021. Smith turned into a Silver Slugger (2024) while Gallo was sent out of town a year later. Another banner moment in Yankees trade deadline history.

Caleb Ferguson from Reds to Cardinals

As the dust has settled, Caleb Ferguson's career-worst performance came with the Yankees back in 2024. He subtracted 0.7 WAR from the Yankees in just 42 games, logging a 5.13 ERA and 1.50 WHIP before being traded at that deadline (he was acquired just months prior). He's now with the Cardinals and we'll of course see him pitch once this week.

Carlos Narvaez from Red Sox to Orioles

Carlos Narvaez had his moment with the Red Sox, and now he's gone. In the process, he played a role in helping Boston get even better as he was part of the trade package that netted the Sox Adley Rutschman. To this day, we'd probably rather have Narvaez as a right-handed hitting catcher option over Elmer Rodriguez, who was not used as leverage at the trade deadline and will become another wasted prospect for the Yankees.

Luke Weaver from Mets to Pirates

A Yankees fan favorite! What do you know. The Mets paid Weaver $22 million this past offseason and already had no choice but to trade him because of their second consecutive collapse. The Mets ate some of his money in the deal with Pittsburgh, who re-worked their bullpen like a contender is supposed to. Even Ben Cherington is out-doing Brian Cashman now? Did he bring his Mets bag to the Pirates' facilities, or is that just reserved for Yankees luggage?

Jameson Taillon from Cubs to Blue Jays

Jameson Taillon's departure from the Yankees got him paid, but it hasn't been pretty. Cubs fans were happy to see the end of the right-hander's tenure in Chicago when he was DFA'd before the trade deadline. But they found a taker on the trade market as the Blue Jays acquired him to seemingly patch up their rotation after Kevin Gausman was sent to Chicago. We'll see Jame-o soon enough.

Ben Rortvedt from Mets to Dodgers

Oh, make that two trades we didn't want to be reminded of. Rortvedt was a Yankee after coming over in the Josh Donaldson trade. He never really existed in New York, though, missing a ton of time with mysterious injuries. He was traded to the Rays after appearing in 32 games across two years with the Yankees. He became serviceable in Tampa before departing for the Dodgers and getting a World Series ring in 2024. He's back in LA and will probably get another one in October.

Clay Holmes from Mets to Cubs

And finally, Clay Holmes went to Chicago in a package deal that saw Tyrone Taylor accompany him. The right-hander hasn't pitched since Spencer Jones fractured his fibula with a line drive months ago, but he's expected to be back soon and help the Cubs push for better playoff positioning. This could've been a smart get for the Yanks, too, but there was no chance they were reuniting with anybody who let them down in any capacity in the past.

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