Yankee's Lost Chance in Trade Deal for Pitcher Yu Darvish
The San Diego Padres have made a significant move in the MLB landscape, acquiring Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs. However, the New York Yankees, despite their need for a No. 2 starter behind Gerrit Cole, did not pursue Darvish in trade negotiations.
Darvish, a six-time All-Star, has been battling right elbow inflammation early in the season and has struggled since his return, with a high ERA of around 5.61. His inconsistent performance and health issues have raised concerns about his reliability as a frontline starter. Additionally, his contract, a six-year, $108 million deal with $21 million salary in 2025 and three years remaining, is considered expensive given his current performance and age (turning 39).
The Yankees, like many MLB teams, have experienced financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Padres focusing more on acquiring bats and assessing how to allocate limited resources during the Trade Deadline, the opportunities for a trade involving Darvish may have been limited.
The Yankees have other priorities. They have made bullpen additions and are working on defense and pitching depth. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Darvish was a priority acquisition for the team. His risk/reward profile likely deterred pursuit.
Meanwhile, the Yankees' offseason remains uncertain due to ongoing negotiations with DJ LeMahieu. The future of Masahiro Tanaka's return to the Yankees' rotation may depend on the outcome of these negotiations. Tanaka, along with James Paxton, JA Happ, Masahiro Tanaka, and Luis Severino, could leave the Yankees in free agency.
In the wake of the Darvish trade, the Padres have bolstered their pitching staff with the addition of Blake Snell. Snell, a former ace who finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting last season with an ERA of 2.01 and 93 strikeouts in 76 innings, is expected to provide a formidable presence in the rotation.
The Yankees, on the other hand, will continue to rely on their remaining pitchers in the rotation: Domingo German, Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia, Michael King, and Clarke Schmidt. Despite the challenges, the team remains optimistic about supporting Cole with a strong starting rotation in the coming season.
Darvish, despite being a six-time All-Star and having a significant contract with the MLB's Chicago Cubs, was not pursued by the New York Yankees due to his inconsistent performance, health issues, and expensive contract. With the Padres focusing more on acquiring bats and allocating limited resources during the Trade Deadline, and the Yankees' priorities lying elsewhere, opportunities for a trade involving Darvish may have been limited.
