Yankees' history comes full circle (from 2016) while visiting Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was in this ballpark nearly eight years ago when Hal Steinbrenner had seen enough.

The 2016 Yankees staggered into Tropicana Field days before that season’s Aug. 1 trade deadline at 52-49, still within shouting distance of a wild-card spot. But many in the organization, including GM Brian Cashman, weeks before had concluded the club was a going-nowhere outfit and that the best course for the franchise’s future was to be all-out sellers before the deadline.

In fact, a week before, the Yankees dealt Aroldis Chapman, whom they would re-sign that offseason, to the closer-needy Cubs in exchange for Adam Warren, Billy McKinney, Rashad Crawford, and Gleyber Torres, then one of top-ranked prospects in the sport.

Still, Steinbrenner was reticent on fully raising the white flag on 2016.

But watching in person his listless club lose to the Rays, 5-1, in the series opener convinced Steinbrenner to finally green-light an everything-must go sale.

Soon after stud lefty reliever Andrew Miller was gone to Cleveland for a collection of minor leaguers that included Clint Frazier, who was the centerpiece from the Yankees’ perspective, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen.

A day after that veteran Carlos Beltan was shipped to the Rangers for Dillon Tate, Erik Swanson and Nick Green. The same day, Ivan Nova went to Pittsburgh for two players to be named, which turned out to be Stephen Tarpley and Tito Polo.

Steinbrenner was in attendance Tuesday night for another series opener against the Rays, a 5-3 loss.

Though, obviously, in far different circumstances than before the 2016 trade deadline (which this year is July 30).

There is no consideration organizationally about the Yankees, even as they came into Wednesday having lost 16 of their last 21 games, selling at the deadline.

Rather, it is about what to add to this year’s club and how aggressively, in terms of what the Yankees would have to surrender in any deal, to do so.

Steinbrenner, extremely protective of his prospects, will have the final say on any deals Cashman is able to put together. Cashman, initially scheduled to arrive in Tampa at week’s end in advance of the MLB draft that starts Sunday but who came a few days early to lay eyes on the current carnage, did not elaborate on his deadline priorities.

But is far from an industry secret that Cashman is looking for a bat or two, preferably at one of the corner infield spots, as well as one or two lockdown bullpen arms. Adding catching or starting pitching depth can’t be eliminated as possibilities, either.

“My deadline plans are to see if we can run into as much that can improve our team as possible,” Cashman said Tuesday, making his first public comments of this three-plus week stretch of poor play. “You’re always evaluating what you’re watching and staying in touch with our manager, our coaching staff, as well as our scouts about what this team’s strengths and weaknesses happen to be. You’re always wanting to keep your strengths your strengths and improve your weaknesses. When you’re at the deadline, see if you can do the best (you) can on that and shore it up and take your final best shot. But we have learned, clearly, a number of different things along the way. Hopefully we’ll be able to take care of business when it counts by the end of the month.”

The Yankees on Wednesday signed veteran lefthander Tim Mayza, recently discarded by the Blue Jays and best known for allowing Aaron Judge’s 61st homer during the outfielder’s 2022 AL MVP season, to a minor league deal. Mayza was lousy this season — an 8.03 ERA in 35 appearances — but posted a combined 2.67 ERA over 193 games with the Blue Jays from 2021-23. It is a low-risk, potentially high reward deal but signing Mayza, likely to be stored in Triple-A for the time being, should not be confused with the heavy lifting that will take place before the deadline.

“A little bit,” Aaron Boone said before Wednesday night’s game of talking with Cashman about areas of need. “I kind of leave that to the front office where they’re having those big-time conversations. But he came down with all of us, met with the coaching staff, so we have those meetings too, like what are we seeing on the front lines or our thoughts…whatever you do, whether it’s a small piece, big piece, a couple pieces, it fits and helps finish off a club. We’ll see where we go.”