Multiple reports indicate the New York Yankees made a last-ditch bid for the prize of the MLB Trade Deadline, pitcher Ryan Dempster, before the Chicago Cubs shipped him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers were Dempster's preferred destination all along, so the 35-year-old right-hander ended up where he wanted to go.
According to YES Network, Dempster had indicated he would accept a move to the Bronx. That, however, did not materialize. After acquiring Ichiro Suzuki it is somehow not stunning to see the Yankees make a play for Dempster, even though they appear not to really need starting pitching.
The Yankees did, however, make one smaller move at the deadline. They traded veteran reliver Chad Qualls to the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-handed hitting infielder Casey McGehee. McGehee, 29, is hitting .230 in 92 games this season with eight home runs and 35 RBI. McGehee has played 71 games at first base and nine at third base this season. Last season he appeared in 143 games at third base for the Pirates.
The Yankees are without Alex Rodriguez for several weeks due to a broken hand. Qualls was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this month and pitched in eight games, compiling a 6.14 ERA. With the rise of rookie David Phelps and the impending return of Joba Chamberlain he was deemed expendable.