Although the Yankees currently find themselves in the cellar of the AL East, they remain three games out of the division lead and 2.5 out of the wild card. Even in the worst case scenario this season, the Yankees should stay within a stone’s throw of a playoff spot for much of the year given the parity in the American League.
The AL teams with the five worst records coming into Thursday, Houston, Minnesota, New York, Toronto and Detroit were seen as strong contenders before the season, and a month’s worth of games shouldn’t change that. That will present a unique challenge when the trade deadline arrives.