Revisiting some of the Yankees' most memorable August trades

If the Yankees want to make a trade before the end of the season, they only have a little over a week left to do so since the waiver deadline ends August 31. After standing pat when the non-waiver deadline ended in July, it looks like the team plans to finish the season with the players that they already have. It may not be the case this season, but in past years the Yankees have made a lot acquisitions in August. Here's a look back at some of the Yankees' most memorable August trades:

Graeme Lloyd

Back in August of 1996, the Yankees were at the top of the standings in the AL East, but they had seen their lead over the second-place Orioles shrink from 10 games on August 1st, down to six games by August 23rd. The team ended up making a handful of trades in August, one of which brought reliever Graeme Lloyd to the Yankees from the Brewers. The full trade involved sending Bob Wickman and Gerald Williams to the Brewers in exchange for Lloyd, Pat Listach and Ricky Bones. The trade looked like a bust for the rest of the regular season, as Lloyd posted a 17.47 ERA through 13 appearances and 5.2 innings pitched. He just barely made the postseason roster, and managed to get his act together to help the Yankees win the World Series. In the ALDS against the Rangers, Lloyd made two appearances and allowed just one hit to the four batters he faced. Through 1.2 innings of work, Lloyd didn't allow a hit to the Orioles in the ALCS. Lloyd finished the year with a strong performance in the World Series against the Braves, notching four strikeouts and not allowing a single hit over 2.2 innings. Lloyd stayed with the Yankees through the end of 1998 and helped the team to yet another World Series win over the Padres. He didn't get much work in the '98 postseason, but he only gave up one hit in his three appearances. When all was said and done, Lloyd posted a 3.51 ERA, 4.51 FIP and 1.34 WHIP during his time as a Yankee.

Luis Sojo

One of the other moves the Yankees made in '96 was to pick up Luis Sojo off of waivers from the Mariners. He had been batting just .211 with the Mariners, yet he managed to find his way onto the Yankees' postseason roster in a utility role. He only played a defensive role in the ALDS, then went 1-for-5 in the ALCS. Sojo was given more playing time in the World Series, where he went 3-for-5 with a double and a RBI. He stayed with the Yankees until 1999 and earned two more World Series rings, despite the fact that his playing time shrunk and contributed very little in the postseason. Sojo signed with the Pirates in 2000, and found his way back to the Yankees in August in exchange for Chris Spurling. This time his postseason efforts turned heroic. He went an unimpressive 3-for-16 in the ALDS against the Athletics, then recorded six hits in the ALCS before he got his chance to shine in the World Series. Tied 2-2, with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Jorge Posada drew a walk, which was followed by a single off the bat of Scott Brosius. Down to their last out, Sojo hit a single up the middle that allowed two runs to score, thanks to a throwing error. With Mariano Rivera closing out the ninth, the 4-2 lead was enough to give the Yankees the World Series win.

Jose Canseco

Though he might not be memorable for positive reasons, the Yankees acquired Jose Canseco off waivers from the Devil Rays in 2000. The Yankees had plenty of outfield and DH options at the time, and the acquisition was presumably made to prevent Toronto from picking him up. He hit .243/.365/.432 for the remainder of the regular season, but didn't see much playing time in the postseason. Canseco didn't play in the ALDS or the ALCS, and struck out during his only at-bat in the World Series, yet still walked away with a ring.

Jeff Nelson

After spending five seasons with the Yankees and helping them win four World Series, Jeff Nelson returned to the Mariners for a few years before finding his way back to the Yankees in 2003. The trade sent Armando Benetiz to the Mariners in a reliever-for-reliever swap. Nelson wasn't able to help his former team win another World Series, though. He walked the only batter he faced in the ALDS, gave up two earned runs in three innings of work against the Red Sox in the ALCS, and walked two batters and struck out five Marlins in the World Series.

Which August acquisitions stand out as the most memorable to you?