In a rather unexpected turn of events, it has been revealed that the New York Yankees front office seriously considered a trade with their cross-town rivals, the New York Mets, during the lowest point of their season, which coincided with Aaron Judge‘s injury scare in mid-year.
From uncertainty to stability
With a 92-68 record, the Yankees are currently locked in a tense playoff battle against the Blue Jays for the American League East lead.
This late-season success is in stark contrast to the uncertainty the club experienced in July, when offensive inconsistency led them to seriously consider selling their future free agent stars, a strategy similar to that of 2016.
The critical moment came with Judge’s injury. Initially, the captain faced the risk of Tommy John surgery, which pushed general manager Brian Cashman and his team to explore a seismic move in the market.
A failed exchange
According to MLB sources, the Yankees were close to sending outfielder Trent Grisham to Queens in exchange for the Mets’ promising third baseman Brett Baty.
The Mets were desperately looking for a rental center fielder to bolster their roster, while the Yankees wanted to secure a long-term third baseman and were particularly interested in Baty being a left-handed hitter.
The trade never happened and Judge’s injury was not that serious, so now the club is grateful it did not take desperate measures.
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