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Yankees sleeper agent Caleb Ferguson just dealt Astros a nightmare loss

You gotta see this.
Adam Weinrib
Adam Weinrib

Yanks Go Yard

Aug 5, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson (64) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the tenth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

While the Houston Astros weren't quite sure what version of reliever Caleb Ferguson they were getting at the MLB trade deadline, the Yankees were absolutely positive.

Houston sent a surprisingly robust amount of international bonus money ($750,000) to the Yankees in exchange for Ferguson, as well as a minor-league relief prospect. No one knows what that bonus money will eventually go to, though insiders have speculated that New York could potentially be preparing for Roki Sasaki, the budding Japanese ace.

Houston? They're just preparing for a problem.

In Ferguson's first outing with the 'Stros on Aug. 3, he allowed two runs to the Tampa Bay Rays in two innings of work, a contest that ended 6-1 in the wrong direction (or the right one, depending on your perspective). In his second chance, he was called upon in extra innings with a 3-2 lead on the road after the Houston offense had scored one run on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch, but otherwise came up empty, Yankees-style.

Adding to Houston's uncanny impression of Yankees baseball, Ferguson got the first two outs of the 10th, then rocked and fired a 3-1 pitch to former Yankee prospect Josh Smith, who saved his revenge for the ex-Bomber in a different uniform. Good. Bye.

Former Yankees reliever Caleb Ferguson victimized by walk-off bomb in Astros uniform

And now, the Astros have learned the hard way something the Yankees pieced together in April: Ferguson's not your Ghost Runner Guy, pal.

The Yankees acquired the ex-Dodgers left-hander in the offseason, hoping that his end-of-season slump would prove to be an aberration. Unfortunately, he ended more games than he secured in pinstripes, and not in the "sealing up a win" way.

Somehow, his DFA never came, and the Yankees were instead able to spin him off in a trade to one of their most bitter rivals, netting a return that could become very significant down the line.

And what'd Houston get? So far, all they've received is a game the Houston Chronicle called "the most embarrassing loss possible." So there's that.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard for 6 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast thrice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for 10 years. He was also a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.