As August rolls through, half of the MLB season has passed and the trade deadline is a thing of history. Fortunately for fans of the Empire State, both New York teams are playoff contenders this season. As they vie for a playoff spot, both teams bought big before March 28, when the trade market closed for the season. The teams looked to thicken their weakened bullpen and add a couple of weapons throughout their lineups for their playoff push.
Every trade deadline, teams face the decision to “buy” or “sell.” They can “buy” – trading for essential players to improve their lineup and the opportunity of a playoff run. A team can also “sell” – trading away their good players for Minor League prospects, killing their chances of a playoff run, but allowing for a brighter future in coming seasons.
As the 2024 post-trade deadline era begins, let’s look at the deals made by the Bronx’s Yankees and Queens’ Mets that will hopefully pay dividends and land them a spot to win it all.
Yankees
The Yankees got off to an exceptional start, holding the best record in the MLB through the first two and a half months of the season. Things took a turn during a 33-game stretch where they won less than a third of their games, producing some of the lowest statistics in all of baseball. During this stretch, they ranked almost last in all pitching categories with a 5.44 team ERA (Earned Run Average) (28th) and, on the offensive side, a Team Batting Average of .233 (26th).
It’s safe to say that the Yankees needed some additions on both sides of the baseball. They started by trading for Jazz Chisolm Jr., the electric all-around player from the Marlins. Although he is primarily an outfielder, Chisholm Jr. will play mainly third base for the Bombers, as the Yanks are desperate for some production from the hot corner. Chisholm Jr.’s energy ignited a spark in the Yankees order, when he started his Yankees campaign by hitting four home runs in his first 3 games – making him just the second player ever to do so in the MLB and the first Yankee. In his first four games, he went 7 for 19, with eight RBIs, just two strikeouts and four home runs, leading the Yankees to a huge sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies on the road. As of August 14, the Yankees are 12-5 since trading for Chisolm Jr.
To aid the ailing Yankees bullpen, who seemed unable to close out a game in July, the Bombers traded for righthander Mark Leiter Jr, nephew of Hall of Fame Yankees pitcher Al Leiter. Leiter Jr. had a 4.21 ERA in 39 appearances for the Chicago Cubs, his previous team. Leiter Jr.’s selling point was his splitter, by far his best pitch, which is unhittable. Batters hit for an average of just .067 against Leiter Jr.’s splitter in his 39 appearances for the Cubs. Leiter Jr. should be what the Bronx bullpen needs, playing a key role in late-game situations further down the line.
Mets
It seemed like 2024 would be a regular, disappointing year for the Mets as they were (again) plagued with injuries and quickly fell behind in the standings. They had an 11.6% chance to make the playoffs through the beginning of June, but they started to heat up with the help of 3B Jose Iglesias, 1B Pete Alonso… and Grimace. The McDonald’s mascot threw out the first pitch of the Mets game on June 12, then the Mets went on a 7-0 win streak. And they didn’t stop there…
Just after the trade deadline, the Queens team finds themselves half a game out of the third wild card spot, and a playoff opportunity, with a 57-51 record. Going into the trade deadline, the Mets desperately needed a left-handed bat in the order, and an addition to their bullpen which, although had been improving after a difficult start, still needed some help.
The Mets received Jesse Winker, a 30-year-old veteran lefthander, on July 27, checking off the team’s need for a lefty in the batting order. After a disappointing 2023 season, playing just 61 games and posting a .567 OPS (On Base % Plus Slugging) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Winker had a .793 OPS with 11 home runs in 101 games for the Washington Nationals in 2024.
Although they rank first in strikeouts, the Mets bullpen ranks in the bottom seven in both home runs and walks allowed and have blown 16 saves in 45 opportunities, yielding a ridiculous 35% blown save rate. The Mets decided to face their bullpen woes head-on, acquiring four relievers to beef up the ‘pen. They added Huascar Brazoban from the Miami Marlins, Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays, Ryne Stanek from the Seattle Mariners and Tyler Zuber from the Rays.
To help the Mets’ starting rotation, the team added Paul Blackburn, a pitcher from the Oakland A’s. Blackburn recorded a 4.41 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP over 51 innings for the A’s. Adding Blackburn will give insurance to the overworked rotation and take some pressure off of other Mets starters.
No matter which side of the East River Rivalry you support, your team has a hopeful shot of playing baseball in Autumn. Whether Jazz Chisolm Jr. will become a breakout star in the Bronx or the Mets bullpen will finally live up to their hype, it will be a must-watch race to see which New York team can make it further in the pursuit of a World Series ring.
