As the trade deadline approached, it became very clear that the Yankees needed to do something if they wanted to actually compete for a playoff spot. The acquisitions of Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo deepened the lineup and as lefties, they gave the Yankees some balance. The additions of Joely Rodríguez and especially Clay Holmes gave them invaluable innings as a bullpen that seemed at times to be coming apart at the seams.
With injuries and the general craziness of 2021, they also probably needed some sort of starting pitching help. While managing to land one of the big names available like Max Scherzer or José Berríos would’ve been ideal, the reasons they couldn’t pull it off are understandable.