With the Yankees recent off one other loss and the commerce deadline lower than 24 hours away, the phrase “f—k” boomed past the elements of the group’s clubhouse which are seen to reporters.
The face behind the voice couldn’t be seen, however the swear underscored the frustrations the Yankees have been feeling. Monday’s series-opener towards the Rays, a 5-1 defeat, dropped the group to 55-51 and three.5 video games out of the third Wild Card spot.
“It’s a broken record: we gotta be better,” Aaron Boone mentioned after his group recorded three hits and struck out 12 instances. “Gotta be better. It doesn’t get any easier. We’ve dug ourselves a hole, and if we don’t play at a high level, we gotta get there. We’re working our asses off to do it, and that’s all we can keep doing.”
While the Yankees have been shoveling, different groups have been upgrading. That contains two division rivals in possession of Wild Card positions, the Rays and Blue Jays, and the Angels, one of many groups forward of the Yankees within the chase.
The Cubs, who’re .500, have additionally dedicated to purchasing.
The Yankees had not performed something on the time of publication late Monday evening. It’s not clear that they may, and it’s not clear what route they may go in in the event that they do one thing. They’ve regarded extra like a group that ought to promote than a group that ought to purchase, however the former path would admit that the entrance workplace doesn’t have a lot religion within the membership it assembled. On the flip facet, the market seems to be a lot stronger for sellers than it does for patrons.
It wouldn’t be stunning if the Yankees tried to search out center floor by including gamers with a number of years of management whereas parting with impending free brokers who’re making respectable cash. Wandy Peralta, Harrison Bader and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are a number of incumbents who’re in stroll years that may very well be of curiosity to contenders.
Boone and Yankees gamers, together with group captain Aaron Judge, have publicly prevented campaigning for the group to purchase. Such choices are “out of my hands,” Judge mentioned.
But the reigning MVP didn’t signal a nine-year deal over the offseason with the intention of enjoying for a vendor, not within the midst of his prime.
“I want to win,” Judge mentioned when requested if he could be dissatisfied if the Yankees promote. “Whatever gets us closer to being a better team and winning, that’s why I’m here and that’s why everybody in this room is here. We want to win. I don’t know what’s gonna happen and it’s out of our control, but the bottom line is I came here to win, just like a lot of other guys, and that’s what we got to focus on.”
Judge’s use of the phrase “whatever gets us closer” is attention-grabbing as a result of, as beforehand talked about, there’s solely a lot the Yankees can do to maneuver the needle in 2023. But parting with a number of items, even ones with management after this 12 months, might assist the Yankees in 2024 and past, if not this season.
At this level, nonetheless, it’s a matter of wait and see. When the clock strikes 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the Yankees and their followers will know the place the choice makers stand — on the deadline and on the season at massive.
The uniformed personnel, in the meantime, will attempt to maintain their concentrate on what’s in entrance of them.
“We’ll see what they do,” Boone mentioned. “We gotta play better. We know that. I think everyone in that room knows that we’re capable of playing better. And that’s what we have to control right now.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com