If anything, the way the Subway Series unfolded this week — a convincing Mets victory on Tuesday, a passable Yankees victory on Wednesday — was fitting for their strange, disappointing seasons in 2023 that sometimes don’t make any sense at all.
Just when a spark ignites, it’s quickly extinguished. Just when it seems the Mets or Yankees are headed for the type of disaster where they can only beat teams like the Royals, A’s or Marlins, they find a way to make the playoff dream seem reasonable again.
Wednesday wasn’t a thrilling victory for the Yankees. It was a satisfactory second act to the promising development earlier in the day that Aaron Judge is likely will return Friday in Baltimore.
They only had six hits, and they still had costly miscues, such as when DJ LeMahieu crept away from third base on a pitch in the dirt and was tagged out in a rundown. But Carlos Rodon threw 5 ⅔ innings for his first victory of the season, turning the kiss saga and frustration from his last start into fist pumps and f-bomb punctuation to strikeouts.
The Mets wasted a chance to continue changing the tenor of their season and to preempt talk of selling before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. They could have made the case to owner Steve Cohen that he should buy and patch holes instead of sparking a sale that would only lead to more.
But on New York City’s most prominent baseball stage of the summer, the mixed results from the Yankees and the Mets made their respective 33.4 percent and 13.7 percent FanGraphs postseason odds (as we sit here on Thursday morning) seem spot on. Their enigmatic seasons didn’t get any easier to decipher.
By this time next week, the verdicts by Cohen and Mets GM Billy Eppler, as well as Hal Steinbrenner and Yankees GM Brian Cashman, will be known. The trade deadline will have passed, and with it, the weeks of speculation. Former Mets and Yankees could make their debuts with new teams. Or the all-in, World-Series-or-nothing splashes could arrive.
But whether their trade-deadline activity involves immediate upgrades or future pieces, the Yankees and Mets need to address these positions — the two Subway Series games at Yankee Stadium this week only reinforced those weaknesses — and Sports+ is here to outline the problems and some possible solutions.
Yankees left fielder
The problem: During his appearance with “Talkin’ Yanks” on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone correctly guessed the Yankees have started 13 options in left field this season. Ten players logged time at that spot in 2022, though no one topped 50 games beside Aaron Hicks (55). Brett Gardner played in left field for 65 percent of the shortened 2020 season (39 games) and 66 percent of 2018 (107 games), but around those two seasons, the past five years have mainly been defined by the failures of Hicks, Joey Gallo and others.
Yankees left fielders went into Wednesday night ranked 27th in baseball with a collective -1.5 WAR, per Baseball Reference, and rank 19th with a combined .731 OPS.
The woes extend to the defensive side. The Mets scored their first run on Tuesday when Pete Alonso’s bloop single landed in front of Billy McKinney — turning a ball with an expected batting average of .050, per Statcast, into a 1-0 lead. McKinney dove, but he couldn’t collect Francisco Lindor’s blooped ball two innings later, either, and by the time the inning ended, the Yankees trailed by four runs.
How they could fix it: The Post’s Jon Heyman has linked the Yankees to the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger, the Rockies’ Randal Grichuk and the Cardinals’ Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill. McKinney’s month of June provided a spark at the plate. Oswaldo Cabrera has logged the most games there in 2023 (36). Isiah Kiner-Falefa accepted a transition after losing his spot at shortstop. But even he has acknowledged growing pains, including communication in loud environments such as Yankee Stadium.
Mets rotation depth
The problem: This rotation problem could be correctable, given that the Mets have Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga — two former Cy Young-winning aces and a 2023 All-Star. But the numbers, especially for Scherzer and Verlander, haven’t been elite. Carlos Carrasco also has sputtered since returning from the injured list, and they have just a two-game sample of Jose Quintana (including his six-inning outing Wednesday).
How they could fix it: It doesn’t improve by trading away Scherzer or Verlander, which Heyman has reported is unlikely despite speculation. Still, it has been difficult to trust Scherzer this season, and he just allowed four homers in his most recent start against the Red Sox. Would dealing Tommy Pham or Mark Canha add anything, or perhaps packaging them with other assets to obtain a controllable starting pitcher?
Yankees rotation depth
The problem: At one point this season, Clarke Schmidt appeared the likely candidate to transition to the bullpen, given that he made the same shift last year. But struggles from Luis Severino and Domingo German have altered that outlook, and when Nestor Cortes returns from the injured list, the Yankees will have a rotation decision to make.
That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look to acquire someone at the deadline, though. They have Gerrit Cole as their ace, and beyond that, each member of the rotation has struggled at times — even Cortes, when tasked with navigating lineups for the third time.
How they could fix it: The Yankees’ farm system has been depleted of pitching prospects due to past trades. They need external options to address the current situation. The list of starters potentially available at the deadline includes names such as Jordan Montgomery, Marcus Stroman, James Paxton and Eduardo Rodriguez, per Heyman. If Cortes returns from his shoulder strain and replicates his 2022 success, will that be enough to stabilize the rotation for the playoffs? Or should the Yankees part with additional prospects and aim for a more impactful deal?
Mets bullpen
The problem: If Grant Hartwig were traded to the Braves, Orioles, Rays or any other contender, in a hypothetical scenario, would he be called upon in high-leverage situations? What about Dominic Leone? Didn’t think so. The Mets have found a couple of consistent options with David Robertson and Brooks Raley, but a problem area would get worse if they decided to part ways with their most reliable right-handed and left-handed relievers, respectively, at the deadline.
How they could fix it: One unknown for the bullpen revolves around a potential Edwin Diaz return. He has thrown before Mets games and would be a welcome presence at the back end of their bullpen, regaining the role that made his massive contract necessary in the offseason. The relievers beyond Raley, Robertson and Diaz still would be shaky, but if the Mets added to the bullpen, resisted trading Robertson and Raley, and then got Diaz back, that would provide an instant boost.
Yankees catcher
The problem: The Yankees had Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka, a dependable defensive duo even if they didn’t contribute much offensively. That all changed when Trevino was lost for the year due to a lingering wrist injury. The other member of the Yankees’ catching tandem became Ben Rortvedt — a member of the 2021 deal with Minnesota that sent Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela to the Twins and brought back Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson. There’s limited upside at the position now.
How they could fix it: Austin Wells, the minor leaguer who helped Anthony Volpe tweak his batting stance over a chicken parmesan dinner, eventually could be a bat-first option in the majors. According to former MLB executive and current analyst Jim Bowden, some of the top catching names who could potentially get traded include Yan Gomes, Yasmani Grandal and Elias Díaz. Could Mets backup catcher Omar Narvaez, who said Tuesday he would welcome a trade if it meant additional playing time, be an option for the Yankees to call their NYC rivals about?
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🏈 Aaron Rodgers takes $35M big pay cut in reworked two-year Jets contract
🏈 ‘Ecstatic’: Saquon Barkley shows why Giants are thrilled he’s back
⚾ Angels prove they’re going all-in with Shohei Ohtani by making blockbuster trade
Everyone gets a nine-figure deal
Perhaps the most significant contract among New York’s teams, in terms of the underlying context and immediate implications, was Saquon Barkley’s one-year deal that could be worth up to $11 million with unlikely incentives, according to numbers from The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy.
But in terms of pure price tag, it’s not nearly as eye-popping as the deals inked Tuesday by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (five years, $265 million) and Celtics star Jaylen Brown (five years, $304 million). On Wednesday, they were joined by Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (five years, $117.5 million).
Nine-figure deals continue to become more prevalent across the major sports, such that even someone such as Geno Smith — once labeled a Jets bust — could get one with the Seahawks after a single productive year. The NFL had 30 active contracts meeting that threshold after Thomas’ deal and before Aaron Rodgers signed a new, dramatically reduced eight-figure contract with the Jets, according to Spotrac, and while the top 12 all belong to quarterbacks, 11 of the next 17 have been signed by offensive linemen or defensive players.
MLB stars have negotiated contracts that combine mega-millions with terms of a decade-plus.The league now has 54 active nine-figure deals, led by Angels star Mike Trout at $426.5 million, a figure that is almost certain to be topped by Shohei Ohtani in free agency this winter.
With all the max and supermax deals, there are now 60 nine-figure active contracts in the NBA, according to Spotrac.
Only six NHL players — Alex Ovechkin, Shea Weber, Sidney Crosby, Ilya Kovalchuk, Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon — have ever signed nine-figure deals, with only four of those active.
For at least three of the four major sports, nine-figure contracts are becoming normal. And they’re not just for stars.
It has completely altered the perception of what makes a massive contract with numbers continuing to balloon as leagues and teams generate additional revenue and increase in their valuations. Josh Harris bought the Commanders for $6.05 billion from Dan Snyder, who spent $880 million to purchase the team in 1999. A story from The Ringer in November 2022 noted that NBA franchises increased in value by 387 percent between 2012 and 2021, and NHL franchises have reportedly increased 1,112 percent in value since 1996.
The contract increases become a natural parallel, and at some point (maybe a point that has already arrived or passed), the “bargains” or “normal deals” of years past will reflect players underpaid compared to their team’s current revenue.
The next quarterback set to capitalize — and join the big-money company of Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, among others — is Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields highlight some of the top quarterback names on rookie deals, and though he hasn’t necessarily performed at the level of a nine-figure quarterback at this point, Fields’ dynamic rushing ability could command a massive contract if his passing develops. Lawrence made strides with Jacksonville and head coach Doug Pederson in his second year, too.
In MLB, Ohtani will become the deal to monitor once the Angels star hits free agency.
In the NBA, it’ll be Jayson Tatum next offseason, when he’s eligible for the supermax deal.
The numbers, and the number of nine-figure contracts, will only continue to grow, too.
USWNT headed onward at World Cup
It didn’t always seem probable that the United States women’s national team would escape with a point in its World Cup Group E game against the Netherlands.
They trailed 1-0 in the 17th minute, when Victoria Pelova sent a pass to Jill Roord in the center of the U.S. defense, and Roord deposited the shot past Alyssa Naeher.
The U.S. then couldn’t generate a response until the 62nd minute, and it took a corner kick from Rose Lavelle — and a header from Lindsey Horan, who was tended to for a possible injury just minutes before — to help equalize.
That’s where the score stayed through the final 28 minutes plus stoppage time, ending the rematch of the 2019 gold medal game in a draw.
It was the first time in Women’s World Cup history that the two opponents from the previous title game played each other in the next group stage, according to U.S. Soccer. It’s like when the Chiefs and Eagles play on Nov. 20. Or when the Nuggets and Heat meet next season.
This match had significant implications for the group stage standings, and it was also a litmus test for the U.S. amid its transition from the veterans of past World Cups and Olympics to the younger players tasked with maintaining that relevance.
And while it didn’t end with a victory — the first time that has happened in the group stage since a 2015 matchup against Sweden — the U.S. extended their unbeaten streak in the World Cup to 19 games, ensuring a spot in the knockout round and keeping its chance at finishing atop the group, as well as a third consecutive World Cup title, intact.
Hamlin, McDermott seats should be cold
It didn’t take long for Damar Hamlin to become part of the Bills’ core.
Just like Josh Allen, with the Josh Jaq’s cereal, the commercial cameos, the flame-throwing arm that any Buffalo season hinged on, even the “Allentown” neighborhood embracing its “Josh Allentown” modernization. Just like Stefon Diggs, Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer — anyone, and everyone, who tugged at the heartstrings of Bills fans clinging to any hope for the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game against the Bengals on Jan. 2 and his inspirational recovery that followed — and has continued through the 25-year-old’s appearance Wednesday on the opening day of training camp as a “full go,” according to head coach Sean McDermott — captured the attention of local and national fans.
He had an emotional moment at the ESPYs, presenting the Pat Tillman Award for Service to the training staff that saved his life. He threw out first pitches at a Yankees and at a Pirates game. His Comeback Player of the Year award candidacy gained traction when his outlook for a full recovery received affirmation after affirmation.
But according to The Athletic, Hamlin’s spot on the Bills could be far from guaranteed. Factors beyond his recovery will, at one point, determine a spot on a football roster, the fine line between business imperatives and personal emotions blurring — as often happens in sports — until it becomes invisible.
It’s obvious the Bills shouldn’t cut Hamlin. Not this year. Not even before next year, when the final year of his rookie deal expires. If Hamlin’s recovery reaches a point where he can sprint out of the tunnel during their first home game Sept. 17, make a play on the field, hear the roar of the Buffalo crowd as the No. 3 — and Hamlin’s heart symbol — fill the stadium, that will transcend anything football-related and become the season’s most storybook moment.
Even if he’s not ready to play, his mere presence will inspire the Bills, just like it did when he attended their playoff loss to the Bengals and visited the locker room at halftime.
“Everybody loves a comeback story, but oftentimes people aren’t interested in that middle part,” Devon Still, a former Bengals defensive tackle who had a similarly inspirational story when his daughter battled stage 4 neuroblastoma, told The Athletic. “They want you to go from tragedy to triumph without recognizing the grief and the pressure and the pain the player might go through. If he is hurting, he may be afraid to speak up about it because we want to be that warrior for our teammates and our fans.”
Another kind of precariousness applies to McDermott. In all likelihood, he’s not on the proverbial hot seat yet, especially with the Bills extending him and GM Brandon Beane through 2027. Others have disagreed, though, and Colin Cowherd called McDermott “rigid,” “tone deaf” and “the issue” on June 14 — nine days before the team announced those front-office extensions.
McDermott lost his defensive coordinator when Leslie Frazier took the upcoming season off, so he’s returning to his coordinator roots and calling plays. The Bills haven’t won the playoff game yet, or even advanced to the Super Bowl with Allen, their best quarterback since Jim Kelly in the 1990s, as the signal-caller.
But McDermott also guided the franchise through one of the most frightening moments in the team’s history — and perhaps the league’s history — and did a commendable job navigating Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and recovery. He memorably told Bengals coach Zac Taylor he “shouldn’t be coaching this game” when there was uncertainty about a possible resumption after Hamlin’s collapse on the field.
How could they ever fire McDermott after that, when he guided the Bills through a situation with implications far exceeding a key third down in the fourth quarter of a playoff game?
It’s another “just business” decision the Bills might face at some point. The calls to keep McDermott and Hamlin as long as possible, though, should be simple.
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