Sal: Yankees were only going to be saved if current bats woke up

The Yankee offense has come alive of late, scoring 14 runs on Zack Wheeler and the Phillies on Monday to make it 40 runs in their last three games.

Sal, who maintained that the team couldn’t be saved at the trade deadline, maintained that declaration on Tuesday, noting that the only way the Bombers would turn things around was if the bats that were already there woke up.

“I did not think the Yankees could be fixed at the deadline, and that was right. They can’t be fixed at the deadline,” Sal said. “What had to happen was the guys from within starting to play better. That has been the difference.

“While Jazz has been great the first two games, the rest of the Yankee offense has gotten going…against right-handed pitching, they’ve been mashing.”

Sure, Jazz Chisholm has made an instant impact with two home runs on Monday, but Alex Verdugo has looked much better since being moved to the leadoff spot, Anthony Volpe has been better since the All-Star break, and Austin Wells has blossomed into one of the best offensive catchers in baseball of late. That is much more impactful than any trade the Yanks could make.

“It’s not new players. They didn’t trade for Vlad Guerrero or Ryan MacMahon,” Sal said. “It’s because Verdugo is getting on base. Wells has been an impact bat. Those guys sandwiching Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have made all the difference in the world.

“If Alex Verdugo is gonna be on base three times a night and you have Wells protecting Judge, it forces teams to pitch to Judge.”