Bronx Bombers making their comeback
Last year, the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs hooked up on a blockbuster midseason deal. The Cubs, of course, landed coveted closer Aroldis Chapman. This filled one of the team’s only weaknesses for the stretch run – but it came at a steep cost.
New York acquired top prospect Gleyber Torres, outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford and Adam Warren in the deal. The four-for-one trade worked well for both sides. The Yankees reloaded a farm system and the Cubs eventually broke a 108-year title drought thanks, in-part, to Chapman.
Yanks Go Yard
Widely viewed as being at least one year away from returning to dominance, the Yanks tore out of the gates this season.
Rookie slugger Aaron Judge leads the bigs in home runs and former Cubs infielder Starlin Castro is enjoying one of the best offensive seasons of his career.
BoSox-Yankees back at it
With the most of the American League East struggling, New York has a great opportunity at-hand. Although Boston is still favored to win the division (56.7 percent odds) – the Yankees’ chances are creeping higher and higher.
As it does with most clubs, Brian Cashman’s team will have to pitch well – and that’s been a question mark for some time. Masahiro Tanaka has been spotty, but the young arms seem to be stepping into the spotlight for the first time.