Quick thoughts on the Yankees’ trades:

It’s been a slow couple of days in Yankee land.

Yes, of course I’m joking! Every time I look at my phone or watch TV over the past couple of days, something big happened, is about to happen or the thing that was supposed to happen didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, that’s not a complaint – it’s actually one of the fun parts of baseball, when we can all bloviate about trades, both potential and real.

Today I’m going to leave you with some quick thoughts, with two caveats. First, I’m writing this on Friday morning, so if anything changes between now and the time you’re reading this, that’s not on me! Secondly, keyword “quick” – I have an in depth piece on the Joey Gallo trade coming out later today, and I’d like to wait to see how remaining pieces fall today before fully expanding on Anthony Rizzo and the rest of the roster.

Let’s do it. In reverse chronological order…

Acquiring Gallo is a great move. After every devil’s advocate argument is made, the Yankees still have a 27 year old All-Star level player who doesn’t create issues for the sacred luxury tax threshold. In exchange, they gave up prospects with high ceilings, but who would not have been in the Bronx before 2023 even in best case scenarios.

Anthony Rizzo is a very good player and I’m glad he’s going to be in the lineup – and glad his glove will be in the field because it’s legitimately very good. Unlike Gallo, whose home runs would all leave Yellowstone National Park, Rizzo will be a beneficiary of the dimensions of Yankee Stadium. My only question is…wow, this raises a lot of questions…

The Yankees still need a shortstop, and if they get one, they can’t move Gleyber to second base and DJ to first now. Luke Voit is still hanging in the wind, so what’s the plan for him?

And as I said on another outlet, all of this is eyewash if the current starting rotation stays the current starting rotation. That ship may have sailed already as Jose Berrios and German Marquez may be the only options remaining who are worth extending yourself for. Should the Yankees go on a run and end up in a seven game series (which would require many fortuitous circumstances bouncing their way), they would be in this situation: Out of Montgomery, Taillon, and German, two of them would start two games. And allow me to remind you, the Yankees have been a .500 team when Cole pitches.

They aren’t winning that seven game series.

So I’ll leave you on this note: The ghosts of Brian Cashman’s past, present and future all say the same thing – starting pitching is an afterthought. That clearly is not going to change. And as I’ve said before, until Hal Steinbrenner’s opinion of Cashman changes, nothing about this team is going to change.

Did I miss something? Let me know.