Insider: Yankees Blew It Big Time Pulling Out of Flaherty Trade

The New York Yankees had Detroit Tigers' ace Jack Flaherty in their hands at the trade deadline — a deal was done, but the Yankees were scared off by Flaherty's sore lower back that had caused him to miss one start in July. Now, they will likely be regretting their decision for the rest of the season, according to an ex-MLB GM.

All Flaherty did in his LA Dodgers debut Saturday night was throw six shutout innings, and look every bit like the ace that the Dodgers (and Yankees) were hoping to land at the deadline.

According to MLB Insider and former GM Jim Bowden, speaking on MLB Network Radio Sunday morning, the Yankees made a HUGE mistake pulling out of the Flaherty trade.

I just couldn't believe it... the New York Yankees had completed a deal, they had agreed upon the players, pending medicals, on a trade with the Detroit Tigers for Jack Flaherty. In his four previous starts before the deadline, he had been dominant.
(But) your medical department nixed it, and the Dodgers took advantage of it.
I was privy to the players that were going to go from the Yankees to the Tigers... I would have made the deal and taken the risk because I know the players that were in it.
I think they made a mistake.

Bowden saw what the rest of us saw, an ace-like performance from Flaherty throughout the month of July, despite his bad back taking him out of one start. In three July outings, he had a 1.53 ERA with a 0.73 WHIP and an 18:5 K/BB ratio.

"That, to me, was the biggest story – the biggest story — coming out of the trade deadline," continued Bowden. "The Jack Flaherty trade and non-trade. Because it absolutely shifts the balance of power with both clubs.

"You (as in Yankees) better hope he doesn't pitch like this for August, September, and October because you're gonna regret your medical department making you pull out of a deal that to me would've been a game-changer for the Yankees. You would have put yourself in the absolute best shot to win a World Series."

Every word Bowden spoke was like another gut punch for Yankees fans, who are as perplexed as he is about why GM Brian Cashman allowed himself to be talked out of the deal.

Bottom line is that Flaherty was only a two-month rental, with his contract expiring at season's end. And per Bowden, the assets going back to Detroit weren't earth-shattering.

"It was a rental! Even if his back goes bad, it was a two-month risk!"