The New York Yankees made their best attempt to nab some of the Boston Red Sox’s top pitchers last Thursday.
New York has been in desperate need of pitching after injuries to starters CC Sabathia, rookie sensation Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda as well. Before Thursday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline, the Yankees attempted to trade for pitchers Jon Lester and John Lackey, but Red Sox ownership would not let it happen, a Major League source told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Lester and Lackey were instead traded to the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.
The Yankees were able to deal for shortstop Stephen Drew, who was not seen as big as a player for the Red Sox as Lackey and Lester were. Drew has played second base since joining New York, but the source noted that Drew could be the Yankees’ next shortstop when Derek Jeter retires at the end of the season.
As much as the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has cooled in recent years, tension definitely remains between the two clubs.
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