Looking at the Yankees 2021 trade deadline
I wish I had time to cover the entire historic 2021 MLB trade deadline, but for today we will focus on the Yankees 2021 deadline. Who won each trade, and where is everybody now? We will break each of the four deals down, and give the front office a grade based on how everything turned out (disregarding the point that the Yankees lost the Wild Card that year to the Red Sox).
1.Yankees acquire RHP Clay Holmes from Pirates for INF Diego Castillo and INF Hoy Park
Holmes had a 1.61 ERA down the stretch in pinstripes over 25 games (had a 4.93 ERA when traded.) When the Yankees acquired Clay, he had a 5.57 career ERA as a mediocre 28 year old reliever in the NL central. Since then, he has had a 2.30 in 127 games as of writing, and made an All Star team along the way.
On the Pirates side of things, it’s worth noting the relievers don’t get much on the market at the deadline. Hoy was hitting .327 in AAA when traded, and that ended up being the high point in his career to date. He’s in AAA for the Braves right now, and now seen as organizational depth. Another AAA depth piece, Castillo is raking in AAA for the Diamondbacks, but struggled in MLB for his audition on the Pirates in 2022 (.206/.251/.382).
Winner-Yankees
2. July 29: Yankees acquire OF Joey Gallo, LHP Joely Rodríguez and cash from Rangers for 2B Ezequiel Duran, SS Josh Smith, INF/OF Trevor Hauver and RHP Glenn Otto
The Yankees needed some left-handed hitting at the deadline, and landed on Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo. Gallo was a huge flop, putting a .660 OPS over 2 years with the Yanks. Joely had a 2.84 in 21 games, but walked at the end of the year, limiting his value in the deal.
The Rangers got a Texas-sized haul: Duran, Smith, Hauver, and Otto. Duran has broken out this year, with a 133 wRC+, and can play 4-5 positions on occasion. Texas is hoping Josh Smith can hit enough to stay in a utility role, but he is not up to par so far (78 wRC+ in 125 career games). Otto started 27 games in 2022 for Texas, and was not great (5.01 xERA). He’s been hurt for most of 2023, but is valuable pitching depth when healthy. Lastly, Hauver is in AA, limited to corner OF and 1B. He’ll have to hit a lot more to ever make an impact in the show. Overall, Duran’s breakout places Texas comfortably in front on this deal.
Winner- Texas
3. July 29: Yankees acquire 1B Anthony Rizzo from Cubs for RHP Alexander Vizcaíno and OF Kevin Alcántara
This is an interesting one, because Rizzo has hit well (117 OPS+ in 2.5 years), but so has Kevin Alcantara. He’s in A+ right now at 21, and has huge potential as a 6’6 outfielder with power and speed tools. Alcantara is the #4 prospect in a decent Cubs farm system, and has a 55 future value (above average MLB player). If he works out, he’ll make All Star teams but has a decent chance of bust. Yankees may have let one get away here, time will tell. Vizcaino never pitched again after the 2021 season.
Winner-TBD based on Alcantara.
4. July 30: Yankees acquire LHP Andrew Heaney and cash from Angels for RHP Janson Junk and RHP Elvis Peguero
Andrew Heaney was another rental gone wrong for New York, with a 7.32 ERA before signing with the Dodgers a few months later. Junk and Peguero were bullpen depth, before the Angels moved them for Hunter Renfroe. Peguero broke out this year for Milwaukee (2.84 ERA in 36 games). Though Renfroe has not been great this year (100 OPS+), his production gives the Angels the edge.
Winner-Angels
TLDR- Holmes was a huge land for Yankees GM Brian Cashman, and Rizzo has been successful overall (though he’s been terrible these last few months) In the historic 2021 deadline, it was hit and miss for New York. Retaining Holmes and Rizzo is a big pro in these moves. Still, Gallo was too big of a flop, and Yanks lost Duran and Alcantara.
Overall- I’d give Yankees front office a C+
*Stats are as of 7/21/23