Yankees fans were hopeful that GM Brian Cashman would pull off some trade deadline magic ahead of the team’s playoff push during the final two months of the regular season.
Come August 1, that was not the case.
New York’s only action at the trade deadline was the reported acquisitions of pitchers Keynan Middleton and Spencer Howard in trades with the White Sox and Rangers, respectively.
Prior to those deals, which came in just ahead of the 6:00 p.m. ET deadline, the Yankees were the only team in MLB that had not made a trade.
With many glaring needs on the roster, the fanbase was unsurprisingly livid over the team’s lack of trade deadline activity. Yankees fans took to Twitter to rip the organization after what was largely viewed as a lackluster deadline day.
The New York Yankees are acquiring right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton from the Chicago White Sox, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2023
Does this still count as doing nothing https://t.co/BatAuX6Ts0
— jack (@Jolly_Olive) August 1, 2023
Maybe he can play LF and catch. https://t.co/ciDHBojv9V
— Mario Gomez😁🚂 (@marioagomez_1) August 1, 2023
Comical https://t.co/uCU1LFtlr9
— The Short Porch (@short_porch) August 1, 2023
I dont wanna be here anymore https://t.co/WOTFT0VEeG
— Big Game Bengal (@BengalYouTube) August 1, 2023
Cashman at the buzzer … BAAAAAANG https://t.co/WAEpinTmxb pic.twitter.com/q50mPZtdTy
— And That's Baseball (@AndThatsBB) August 1, 2023
The Yankeee have needed a reliever for a while. Lots of Ks. Lots of walks. If this is the only move, this was a bad deadline for the Yankees. Obviously. https://t.co/LjTorN4LRH
— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) August 1, 2023
This is actually worse than doing nothing. Traded for the one thing we don’t even need https://t.co/wZlMbC5SG4
— Kevin Finnerty 🗽 (@kevinfinnertyy) August 1, 2023
The Yankees are so unserious bro 💀 https://t.co/ZFdtGQwnxY
— Patrick Hennessy (@UnhingedPatrick) August 1, 2023
Lmao this is almost worse than doing nothing https://t.co/xrvkj8IQro
— Jonny's Lasagna ⚾️ (@JLasagna43) August 1, 2023
When you say cash, do you mean Cashman?
— Matt ⚾️ (@yankeesguy93) August 1, 2023
Cashman made the team worse with this somehow
— GRANT HARTWIG SZN (@LindorRBW) August 1, 2023
Middleton, 29, owns a 3.96 ERA across 39 appearances out of Chicago’s bullpen. He will be a free agent after this season, making him a rental for New York. As for Howard, he owns a 10.80 ERA this season, having pitched just 3.1 innings in the majors in 2023.
