Around the Empire: Yankees news - 8/1/21

The Ringer | Michael Baumann: Now that we’re a day removed from the MLB Trade Deadline, we can begin to assess how each team came away from the whirlwind period. That’s exactly what Michael Baumann did, as he attempted to separate the winners from the losers. Of course, we have to see how the moved players performed to really declare a winner or loser, so these are more grades on paper.

The Dodgers are the obvious victors, pulling off the borderline-absurd trade to bring over Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. After LA, Baumann selects the Yankees, Mets, and Giants as clear winners. In a tier below, he places the Blue Jays, White Sox, Marlins, and Athletics as teams who addressed needs, but might regret the acquisitions in the future — likely because of the high-end prospects sent back. The clear losers include the Padres, Rays, Phillies, and of course, the Rockies.

With respect specifically to the Yankees, Baumann applauds the additions of Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo. They add two dangerous lefty bats to a previously unbalanced right-handed lineup. And although they had to part with a high volume of prospects, such is the cost of making a playoff push in 2021. All in all, he feels they shored up all their (non-pitching) weaknesses.

ESPN | Associated Press: In their first media interactions after officially joining the Yankees, Gallo and Rizzo shared their reactions to being traded. Gallo recounted how he was a Yankees fan growing up. Rizzo admitted it was difficult to leave a franchise he had been a part of for ten years and won a historic title with, but he was also a bit in awe to be joining such a star-studded lineup. Both expressed their excitement for the opportunity to be catalysts in New York’s push to make the playoffs.

MLB.com | Mike Petriello: We have heard ad nauseam how the Yankees lineup was too right-handed. Well, in the trades for Gallo and Rizzo, they fixed that problem and then some. The meat of the argument for having more lefties in the Bombers lineup is that Yankee Stadium is tailor built for a lefty swing with the right field short porch. Mike Petriello did a comprehensive analysis of what each hitter stands to gain from playing in the Bronx.

He found that Gallo wouldn’t benefit as much as one might think, largely owing to the fact that most of his home runs are no doubters anyway. In other words, the majority of his pulled home runs would just be several rows deeper in Yankee Stadium. Petriello predicted that Gallo would have added four dingers if he had played all season in the Bronx.

Rizzo on the other hand stands to benefit greatly from Yankee Stadium. Many of his pulled fly balls went for outs in the recessed right field of Wrigley. Instead of 14 home runs entering play Friday, Rizzo would have had 23 if he had been a Yankee all season.

CBS Sports | Mika Axisa: Prior to the game last night, it was announced that Marlins manager Don Mattingly had tested positive for COVID-19. He is set to miss the rest of the series against his old team, with bench coach James Rowson taking over. Mattingly reportedly was fully vaccinated, and was suffering mild symptoms. Here’s wishing the former Yankees captain a full and speedy recovery!

MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: Finally, we have a bit of housekeeping. The Yankees announced Saturday they were designating reliever Sal Romano for assignment to make space for newly-acquired Andrew Heaney on the roster. He pitched 2.1 scoreless innings for the Yankees, and owned a 3.47 ERA in 23.1 innings at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This is the third time Romano has been DFA’d this season, and he has the option to elect free agency over an outright assignment if he clears through waivers. Best of luck to the Big Cheese!