The Damned Yankees

Just when the week couldn't become any worse for the Yanks, Masahiro Tanaka unexpectedly lands himself on the disabled list with a partially torn UCL in his right arm. Three doctors analyzed Tanaka in Seattle yesterday afternoon, with a unanimous diagnosis of six weeks of no baseball activity, hoping for a painless and speedy recovery for the Yankee ace. If the recovery period fails any progress, Tommy John surgery is a potential solution.

Tanaka, who has carried the Yanks' pitching staff in result to the starting rotation blunders, has shown signs of struggle his last few outings, including an inconsistent performance in Cleveland this week. With a record of 12-4, Tanaka's success kept the Yanks' alive in the playoff race, but now with the 25 year-old in a sling till September, do the Yankees have enough bullets to make a postseason run?

The Yankees enter today a game over .500, heading in to Baltimore to play three games against the first place Orioles. With the countless injuries occurring, it is apparent to the fans and front office that the team is out of bullets? The nine lives of the Yankees are now used up, and the sights of a championship that seemed reachable in March are now fading away, maybe for good.

The Yankees have never recognized themselves as a forfeiting franchise. Now matter the circumstances, GM Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner family have always tried to place a winning ball club out on the field. The only question that fogs the critic's mind is do the Yankees make an effort to compete, or develop the young talent and look toward the future?

After a heartbreak season in 2013, it is unfathomable to some that the Yankees should throw in the towel in mid-July, but the Yankees are a team that needs to sell, not buy, at the trade deadline. Despite the pitching woes, David Price and Cliff Lee are too expensive. The only logical move for the Yankees at this point would be to trade a player such as David Robertson, who still exemplifies value to any club in need for a reliever. With phenom Dellin Betances as the set-up man, it is imperative to allow Betances to pitch in these late innings on a regular basis, and establish a role as the future Yankee closer. Shipping David Roberston away can conclude in a high potential investment, and the Yanks' need all the help they can get in the prospect department.

As the stress builds on, it is also time to call up the future stars. Here are two names that could potentially be debuting this second-half:

Rob Refsnyder (2B/OF):  .317 BA, 12 HR, 45 RBI, .401 OBP , .549 SLG, .950 OPS  in 91 games

Adonis Garcia (OF):  .304 BA, 72 H, .342 OBP, .794 OPS in 60 games