Post by Admin on Aug 1, 2016 19:57:30 GMT -5
NEW YORK — The Yankees' latest dynasty ended seven years ago. Any pretense of trying to win now stopped Monday.
Outfielder Carlos Beltran and pitcher Ivan Nova followed Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller out of the Bronx. Instead of contending for their accustomed playoff spot and a 29th World Series title, the Yankees will fight to avoid their first losing season since 1992.
After peaking at 56-52 last week, the Yankees dropped back to .500 with four straight losses, including a three-game weekend sweep by last-place Tampa Bay.
"A true playoff contender, you know, not a playoff pretender, wouldn't do that," general manager Brian Cashman said bluntly before the Subway Series opener at the Mets.
And so, the Yankees will resemble other rebuilding teams for the immediate future. In exchange for four veterans, New York received 10 prospects — three of them highly rated — plus pitcher Adam Warren and two players to be named.
"We're kind of in unfamiliar territory with the Yankees," said first baseman Mark Teixeira, whose eight-year contract ends this year. "You can't just win through free agency. That's not the way it works anymore."
www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2016/08/labeling_yanks_a_pretender_cashman_flips_rebuild_switch