The New York Mets swept their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, in the recently concluded Subway Series, and with just two months remaining in the regular season both squads are in the middle of the postseason race. Both teams made several moves before the MLB trade deadline that could enhance their postseason odds.
The New York Yankees added versatile infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisolm from the Marlins earlier this week to replace underperforming third baseman DJ LeMahieu. The 26-year-old is extremely happy to join a contending team and is excited about playing the 'hot' corner.
"I felt really comfortable at third," said Chisholm, who debuted in center field for the Yankees on Sunday. "Back in the infield felt great. That's where I feel I deserve to be."
New York manager Aaron Boone feels that Chisolm will impact both sides of the ball for the Bronx Bombers.
"He's a special athlete," Boone said. "He came up as a shortstop and has all the skills and ability to handle it. He's fit in right away. He likes the action. The energy he walks into the building with, you can feel that. He's a really good dimension added to our club.
"I've liked his eagerness here in the early days. He's excited to be here and wants to be with a winner."
Yankee captain Aaron Judge is also excited to have Chisolm on the squad as New York looks to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
"He's electric," Judge said of his new teammate. "He's excited to be here, having fun. He's made a big impact." Chisholm started his career in the Bronx in a big way with a pair of two-homer games.
Another offensive weapon the Yankees will need down the stretch is Giancarlo Stanton, who returned from the injured list Monday. The 34-year-old slugger was hitting .246 with 18 home runs before leaving a game on June 22 after getting injured while running the bases. For those betting on MLB, Stanton's return could be a crucial factor in the Yankees' offensive resurgence and overall playoff push.
"I thought 'G' had really good at-bats," Boone said after Stanton went hitless with a walk against the Phillies. "Didn't have anything to show for it, but coming back your first draw out of the gate is Zack Wheeler, right on right, that's a pretty tough draw. I thought swing decisions were good all night. Thought he just missed a couple pitches, got into some counts. It was good to see him like that. He came through all right."
The veteran pitcher Nestor Cortes was one player prepared to be dealt before the trade deadline. The southpaw endured a disastrous July that saw him fail to reach the fifth inning in his previous three outings. The 29-year-old, who is 1-5 with three no-decisions over his last eight starting assignments, heard the rumors about possibly getting traded.
"It was all over Twitter," Cortes said of the reports on social media and elsewhere that he could be traded. “I'm still on this team
Cortes (5-9) scattered three runs on a trio of hits over 5.1 innings with six strikeouts to help the Yankees deal the Philadelphia Phillies their first sweep of the season on Wednesday afternoon.
The Yankees did acquire a pair of right-handed relievers in Mark Leiter Jr. (Cubs) and Enyel De Los Santos (Padres) just hours before Tuesday’s deadline. New York also received minor league pitcher Thomas Balboni Jr. from San Diego.
Leiter has been lights out since returning from the IL on July 9 with 14 strikeouts while retiring 23 consecutive batters. The 33-year-old ranks 10th among relievers with a 34.9% strikeout rate and should bolster a bullpen that ranks sixth with a 3.63 ERA and 17th with a 23% strikeout rate.
New York also shipped left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the Houston Astros for a minor-league player and international pool money.
The New York Mets added outfielder Jesse Winker last week from the Washington Nationals for Double-A pitching prospect Tyler Stuart. The 30-year-old is batting .258 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs in 103 games this season and has had a fraught relationship with New York fans.
"Once I found out I was coming here I was extremely excited. It's such a great team, and they've been playing so well," the Mets' new outfielder said recently. "I've been in the opposing dugout. I'm excited to be a part of it.
"I think we squashed our little thing a couple of years ago. It'll be cool," said Winker who once traded a ball for a fan's sign that read, 'Jesse Winker you're a straight-up b-tch.' I just want to play hard for them and do whatever I can to help the team win."
Another hurler who seemed destined last week to be dealt before the trade deadline was left-hander Jose Quintana. However, the veteran pitcher remains in the Big Apple after notching his second straight start with a lone earned run and has an eye-opening 2.10 ERA over his past eight outings.
"I am just thinking, bring more players to help us and keep going," Quintana said in regards to the trade deadline. "We're in a pretty good race and we're playing together and I want to stay and make the playoffs — that would be huge for us.
"Today was special because I have never used my curveball so many times," Quintana stressed. "I think that was really good, because we read the game quickly and I think
The Mets added right-hander Paul Blackburn from the Oakland A's just hours before the deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Kade Morris. Blackburn, 30, is 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA in nine starts this season after a right foot injury put him on the shelf earlier this season. Morris is a 22-year-old who was drafted by New York in the third round of last year's draft.
New York also bolstered its bullpen with relievers Tyler Zuber (Rays) and Huascar Brazoban (Marlins). Zuber, 29, is a right-hander who has appeared in just two games this season with a 2.70 ERA and four strikeouts in just 3.1 innings. The 34-year-old Brazoban is a hard-throwing righty who is 1-2 this season with a 2.84 ERA and 36 strikeouts over 30.2 frames.
As the regular season winds down and both the Yankees and Mets make their final pushes towards the playoffs, the excitement for baseball fans and bettors alike is palpable. With new additions like Jazz Chisolm and Jesse Winker, the potential outcomes for these teams are more dynamic than ever.
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