The Yankees didn't pull off any big deals at the trade deadline, but they reportedly came very close.
On July 31, the Yanks and Blue Jays made "significant progress" on a deal that would've brought Toronto closer Ken Giles to New York in exchange for three prospects, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
According to Rosenthal (who didn't reveal which prospects the Yanks would've sent to Toronto), the deal was so close that the Jays informed other teams that Giles would be getting traded elsewhere. But the Yankees pulled out of the deal late.
Giles, 28, was dealing with an elbow issue around the time of the deadline. Since the deadline passed, he has posted an ERA of 4.00 in 9.0 innings (nine appearances) while walking four and striking out 15.
Overall this season, Giles has a 2.05 ERA (2.11 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 73 strikeouts in 44 innings for Toronto.
Along with not swinging a deal for Giles or any other impact relievers, the Yankees also failed to trade for starting pitching help at the deadline, with GM Brian Cashman saying shortly after the deadline passed that the prices were too exorbitant.
Giles is under team control for 2020 in what is his final season of arbitration. He is eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.
With Giles, the Yankees would have had another high-upside arm to add to their already strong bullpen that includes Aroldis Chapman, Adam Ottavino, and Zack Britton.
