MLB Trade Deadline: American League East Needs

New York Yankees

Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

NEED TO: Pray For a Miracle.

I’m kidding. Sort of. Not really. If the Yankees believe in a “higher power”, they better consult with it soon. Losing Masahiro Tanaka was the final nail in their season. According to Jusin Tasch of the New York Daily News, Tanaka could be out for a while. Initially, the timetable was set at 6 weeks to see if the platelet rich plasma injection would work. That kind of tells you how desperate they are. They are really hoping to still have him back this season. But, a partially torn ligament in your throwing elbow…good luck with that.

So, if the Yankees believe they are going to make a run at this thing in Derek Jeter‘s final season, they are going to need help. Lots. Tanaka is out. C.C. Sabathia is out.  The Yankees are going to need a better option than Hiroki Kuroda, David Phelps, Vidal Nuno and Chase Whitley. They made some progress when they added Brandon McCarthy. That progress is not going to be enough.

Offesnively, the Yankees felt comfortable enough letting Alfonso Soriano go. Maybe because they had swung a deal that was subtly announced during the MLB Home Run Derby:

Obviously, that was an ESPN error. I don’t think they Yankees have enough in their system to pull off a trade for a bat like Jose Bautista‘s. In fact, I’d be surprised if they have enough to bring in a bat at all. MAYBE their ability to eat contracts can help them land an impact bat. Maybe.