The Greater Fool.

 

A few days ago, in the midst of SNY's SportsNite July discussions about just who our local ballclubs should acquire to salvage their unsalvageable seasons, the name "Gleyber Torres" was suddenly spoken aloud.

I had thought this strictly verboten, and that if it were spoken, all sorts of dreadful things would happen: horses whinnying, groans echoing through the castle, Bettlejuice appearing. The bat signal beaming out to the heavens. The tortured scream of Brian Cashman resounding through our smoke-filled skies. 

Nope. 

But actually, the usual, estimable suspects on that outstanding show made a decent point, and leads me to provide my own, Rainout Analysis, in ten, er, eleven, er twelve bullet points, below:

—The reason the name of the most disappointing Yankees flameout of the last 15 years got mentioned was in comparison to—surprise, surprise—Jazz Chisholm. One of SNY's excellent crew mentioned that, for all his obvious talent, Chisholm seemed sometimes as "unengaged" as The Gleyber did.

—I think all of us can agree with that. Frankly, I'm not so sure that Jazz Chisholm really does possess some amazing, untapped physical talent—and since physical talent is so closely intertwined with field smarts and oh, staying engaged in baseball, I don't know if these skills can be meaningfully distinguished.

But sure, let's leave it that a lot of people think Jazz has great potential that remains untapped—much as they did with Gleyber. What then?

—The fact is that his mini-streak of three home runs in his last two games has surely saved Chisholm's place on the Yankees this season—and probably ensured him at least a qualifying offer after the season. Whoop-de-doo. But this by no means is the same as saying that Jazz will ever have a useful career with your New York Yankees.

—Or maybe not. Brian Cashman has a way of absolutely committing to ballplayers...before suddenly cutting them loose. For nothing in return. 

This is very much what happened with Mr. Torres. For over seven yeas, from when he was first acquired for Machine-gun Chapman, Gleyber Torres was the key to building the next Yankees dynasty.

Until he wasn't. And he was gone. As a free agent. For nothing.

—This happens again and again with our Mr. Cashman. Sonny Gray—inexplicably acquired over Justin Verlander for the 2017 stretch run—was then flung away for nothing (The Shedd Long deal notwithstanding.)

This can sometimes be a good thing, considering our Cashie's acuity in judging talent. Another gigantic bust, Gary Sanchez, was dealt along with Gio Urshela, for Josh Donaldson, IK Falafel, and Muscles Rortvedt. Subtraction by addition, not to mention calculus, trigonometry, and algebra.

—Proposed deals for what the Yankees should do now to try to win a ring, regularly include somehow acquiring the likes of Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver, Luis Torrens, and even Juan Soto—all useful individuals who Hal & Pal let walk off the Yankees for absolutely nothing in return.

Stop it.

—The truth of the matter is that the Yanks' threadbare roster and farm system contains absolutely nothing with which they could possibly re-acquire any of these individuals. Or any of their other, myriad needs: a good, right handed-hitting catcher, a useful infielder, a back-up outfielder, and a gaggle of effective relief pitchers, to say the least. 

This is just not going to happen.

—The current big idea is that Cashman should deal our two big outfield flops, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones.

But talk about untapped potential! Neither Spencer nor The Martian have really been given a full opportunity to sink or swim (unlike Cashie's favorites). If you strapped me to a board, clamped electrodes on my nipples, and gave me several jolts of electricity, I would say more, please 'No, they almost certainly will not make it.'

—But here's the thing: Spencer and Jasson can at least take the field. The same cannot be said for so many of the Yanks' other outfielders. Let's face it. Judge is not coming back this year. Stanton is probably never coming back. Hop-a-long Grisham is another hammy blowout just waiting to happen.

Max Schuemann is certainly game; he just isn't a right fielder. All of which leaves us with...what, exactly? Will we even be able to field three outfielders without Dominguez and Jones?

—What Brian Cashman never seems to have heard of is, "The Greater Fool" theory. That there is always somebody out there who is the greater fool, willing to take up the risk on the very chance properties you have acquired. Surely, we can peddle our worthless trinkets somewhere.

—This Yankees team is not one or two more, useful role players away from taking it all. All this Yankees team has left is some good starting pitching—and that looks worse and worse with each passing week. I don't think it will be enough to get them into the playoffs, and if it does, they won't go far.

Therefore: the Yanks need to be sellers, not buyers, come the trade deadline.

Deal "the New Gleyber," Jazz Chisholm. He will bring the biggest possible return—and someone will ante up for him. 

Deal Anthony Volpe, for the love of God. You watch: someone will bite. 

Deal Austin Wells, for pity's sake. For that matter, I would say, deal Ryan McMahon, and Paul Goldschmidt, and Ahmed Rosario, and Cody Bellinger—talk about looking unengaged!—and all the worst of the bullpen clutter.

Deal them, everyone. For whatever outstanding or merely promising minor leaguers you can get. And the younger and further down, the better, for when the Baseball Apocalypse descends upon us and wipes out the 2027 major-league season.

Stop pretending that the World Series is one more Jake Bird or Camilo Doval away. Admit that the Yanks have failed to produce that new dynasty, or even a true contender. 

Cash-in now, before the end of the season. Before these guys are out there demanding free-agent money, or simply getting a year older during the big lockout that will be soon upon us. 

Find the Greater Fool. Don't, for once, let it be us again.